NEW YORK — The Jets addressed their run defense to begin Day 3 of the NFL draft as Gang Green selected Florida State defensive tackle Darrell Jackson Jr. on Saturday afternoon.
The Jets also picked Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik at 110th overall after trading 128th and 140th picks to the Bengals to move up. They also received the 199th pick from Cincinnati in the deal.
After finishing 29th in rushing yards allowed last season, the Jets have made a concerted effort to improve that aspect of their defense. In February, they traded Jermaine Johnson for T’Vondre Sweat. Now they add Jackson (103rd overall), who specializes in that area.
At 6-5, 315 pounds, Jackson, 22, is a lengthy player with 11-inch hands and an 86-inch wingspan. He is quick off the line of scrimmage and has the strength to shed blockers and make plays behind the line of scrimmage.
Jackson started 24 games during the last two seasons at FSU. Last season for the Seminoles, Jackson registered 45 tackles, three tackles for loss and one sack. Scouts and analysts have questioned Jackson’s speed and athleticism, which is why he likely slipped to the fourth round.
Jackson is the nephew of former NFL safety and Super Bowl MVP XXXVII Dexter Jackson. He will join a Jets defensive line that includes Sweat, Harrison Phillips and Jowon Briggs.
“I’m bringing physicality in the run game,” Jackson said Saturday. “Even in the power rush, I can push and get to the quarterback. I know coach Aaron Glenn got a plan for me. Just bring that physicality.”
The Jets were always going to select a developmental QB to be the No. 2 behind Geno Smith. However, it was a mild surprise that it was Klubnik, who had an inconsistent career while at Clemson. Now he will join Smith, Brady Cook and Bailey Zappe in the Jets’ quarterback room.
Klubnik, 22, was the fifth quarterback selected in this year’s draft (Fernando Mendoza, Ty Simpson, Carson Beck and Drew Allar). In high school, he was a two-time USA Today Offensive Player of the Year, the Gatorade Player of the Year in Texas and the MVP of the Elite 11 camp.
After his decorated high school career, expectations were high for Klubnik at Clemson. He passed for 10,123 yards, 73 touchdowns and 24 interceptions during his four seasons.
Klubnik helped lead the Tigers to the 2024 ACC championship and a spot in the College Football Playoff, but Klubnik and Clemson struggled during the 2025 season. He finished with 2,943 yards and threw only 16 touchdowns, 20 fewer than he threw during his junior campaign.
“Ups and downs, but thankful for it all,” Klubnik said. “One a ton of games. I got to win two ACC Championship MVPs [2022, 2024]. Lost some games and had some tough years. I think more than anything, I found out how to be a winner, especially after this past year, starting off the year 3-5.
“I’ve been winning a long time and really faced a lot of adversity this past year. For me, I figured out how to take a team that’s not winning, transform it, and go win games to finish with four straight wins at the end of the year. I’m about pushing the guys around me. I’m a winner, and I’m a competitor, and I hate to lose.”
Klubnik is an athletic QB who uses timing and anticipation to get the ball to his receivers. He also has a quick release and is a more accurate passer than his 64% completion percentage at Clemson might suggest, due to drop passes by his receivers. Klubnik says his strengths are his ability to make plays and his resilience to fight through anything.
But Klubnik can get flustered in the pocket at times, and that can get him in trouble. He also lacks athleticism in the pocket if protection breaks down.
Klubnik didn’t want to discuss what led to his inconsistencies at Clemson and is just happy to have a fresh start with the Jets.
“I don’t really want to get into that, to be honest,” Klubnik said. “I’m just celebrating being a Jet now. I’m thankful for this past year.
“It wasn’t how I wanted to go out, but I’m thankful for it because I learned how to really attack adversity.”