After taking over as a starter in 2023, Cade Klubnik has only gotten stronger over his two years as the lead signal-caller of the Clemson Tigers. After having an excellent 2024 campaign, he is one of the biggest names to look for coming out of the 2026 NFL Draft.
However, one analyst believes that Klubnik could end up in one of the best situations imaginable for a rookie NFL quarterback. Whether he comes in as a starter right off the bat or takes some time to develop on the sidelines, this move could be the ideal pathway to success for the Texas native.
Could Cade Klubnik Join Playoff Contenders Immediately?
The Los Angeles Rams have been trying to catch lightning in a bottle again by making it back to and winning another Super Bowl after 2022. However, injuries have played a major role in them not finding the same level of success again.
Add in the Rams’ roster overall age and it might not be long before Rams head coach Sean McVay has to think about some major changes. Even this offseason, rumors of quarterback Matthew Stafford departing made the rounds.
While Stafford has returned for the 2025 NFL season, at 37, there is no guarantee about how long his career is going to last with the Rams. As a result, Ryan Wilson of CBS Sports, in his mock NFL draft for 2026, has Los Angeles picking Klubnik with the 27th overall pick.
That would be a major fall for someone as talented as the Clemson product, but it would be a steal of a get for the Rams. “Klubnik got better as the ’24 season progressed,” Wilson wrote. “While he’s not the biggest QB, he has a big arm and is one of the best deep-ball passers in this class.”
Add in his mobility on the ground, and it isn’t hard to see why McVay and the Rams might be interested. In 2024, Klubnik threw for 3,639 yards and 36 touchdowns against just six interceptions. Additionally, he also had 463 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground.
In one fell swoop, Los Angeles could find stability for its present and the future, especially if Klubnik continues his current progression and turns out to be as good as Wilson expects him to be.
I keep coming back to Cade Klubnik’s film. Just so smooth as an operator. The Bo Nix comp stays in my mind, but I think Klubnik is more polished than Nix was at this stage.
One of the best in the 2026 class at stacking actions: Read, reposition, release, etc. pic.twitter.com/Dw0AuUp0sr
— Ian Cummings (@IC_Draft) June 10, 2025
However, some people are even higher on Klubnik than Wilson. Max Dorsey of PFSN, in his mock draft, has him as the first overall pick to the Cleveland Browns, despite the Browns adding two rookie quarterbacks this summer.
Dorsey, though, has a similar idea to Wilson as far as when it comes to the Rams. Rather than the 27th overall pick, Dorsey believes Los Angeles could target a quarterback with the 10th overall pick, which they get via the Atlanta Falcons.
With that selection, Dorsey has the Rams adding another dynamic two-way threat, quarterback LaNorris Sellers of South Carolina. Calling him a “raw prospect,” Dorsey believes he could be the ideal get for Los Angeles if Stafford sticks around for just a little while longer.
In the meantime, Sellers can develop on the sidelines and then take over the starter’s job when the time comes. “Sellers has quite literally all the tools that an NFL quarterback needs in today’s game,” Dorsey wrote. “The South Carolina product has a great arm and elite athleticism and has already shown improvements in his ability to read coverages.”
Between the two quarterbacks, Klubnik seems like the more surefire bet. However, Sellers has a lot of unexplored potential that makes it impossible to predict his ceiling. Add in the unlikeliness of Klubnik being available this late in the draft and it might be safer for the Rams to target Sellers.
