Klubnik's Arm a "Concern" for NFL Scouts Ahead of 2025 Season

Klubnik's Arm a "Concern" for NFL Scouts Ahead of 2025 Season originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

CLEMSON, S.C. -- Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik is generating significant buzz as a potential top pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, but some NFL scouts are pumping the brakes, citing "concerns" about his arm strength and overall ceiling heading into the 2025 season.

After a stellar 2024 campaign that saw him toss 36 touchdowns to just six interceptions, Klubnik has firmly planted himself in the conversation as one of the nation's elite signal-callers. However, scouts who spoke with ESPN's Jordan Reid have raised red flags about his ability to consistently challenge defenses downfield.

"Scouts around the league I've talked to have raised concerns about Klubnik's arm strength and whether he can build on his 2024 success," Reid wrote. "Questions about his arm surface when he's forced to test tight windows in underneath coverage and with his inconsistent trajectory on deep passes."

The numbers appear to back up those concerns. Klubnik's average of 8.56 air yards per attempt in 2024 ranked just 58th in the FBS, a statistic that scouts believe indicates a need for him to be more aggressive in attacking the intermediate and deep portions of the field.

"He must be more assertive and willing to challenge coverage in intermediate and deep areas," Reid emphasized.

Despite these critiques, Klubnik's strengths have him positioned as a potential No. 1 overall pick for a reason. His breakout 2024 season, where he amassed 3,639 passing yards, was a dramatic turnaround from a turbulent sophomore year. Reid noted the mechanical consistency that has scouts intrigued.

"He's able to repeat his mechanics and keep his eyes, feet and throwing motion in sync while going through his progressions," said Reid, who had Klubnik as the top pick in his "Way Too Early 2026 mock draft."

Klubnik saved his most impressive performance for the biggest stage, throwing for 336 yards and three touchdowns in a College Football Playoff first-round showdown against Texas. With his top three wide receivers returning for the 2025 season, the stage is set for the senior to build upon his success.

Adding to the narrative is analysis from The Athletic's Nick Baumgardner, who praised Klubnik's "dynamic" athleticism and "great deep ball," highlighting his 16 completions of 30 or more air yards last season. Baumgardner described him as a "legit dual-threat passer" who can be an "explosive scrambler."

However, Baumgardner also pointed to areas needing refinement, noting Klubnik is "not the sharpest processor from the pocket, often working only one side of the field before looking to run."

For his part, Klubnik is embracing the need for continued growth.

"I think that I’m kind of the epitome of the word development," Klubnik said recently. "I wasn’t very good my sophomore year, but I just stuck with it. And what Clemson’s done with me is develop me. They’ve got me better...I'm still not where I want to be, but I'm hoping to take another step."

As the 2025 season approaches, all eyes will be on Klubnik. The poise, the mechanics, and the highlight-reel plays are there. But to solidify his status as a top-tier NFL prospect, he'll have to prove to scouts that his arm is ready to make every throw at the next level.

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 8, 2025, where it first appeared.