Josh Dobbs was just acquired by the Minnesota Vikings to address a significant question at quarterback, but he will soon raise questions of his own.
Just before the regular season began, Dobbs was traded by the Cleveland Browns to the Arizona Cardinals, where he signed a one-year, $2 million contract. Even though Dobbs has only played one game for Minnesota—albeit an excellent one—he is already in position to profit when he hits free agency in March 2024.
On Wednesday, November 8, an AFC executive told Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, “He’s earned high-level No. 2 status.” “A guy who makes decent money and can start games for you when needed.”
Fowler continued by drawing comparisons between Dobbs’ earning potential and that of Jacoby Brissett, whom he supported during their 2022 season together with the Browns.
“Take into consideration Jacoby Brissett, who proved himself as a bridge starter for Cleveland and earned a one-year, $10 million contract with $8 million guaranteed from the [Washington] Commanders,” Fowler wrote. “It might be Dobbs’ lane.”
Josh Dobbs Has Built Earning Potential Through Failure, Patience
GettyQuarterback Josh Dobbs of the Minnesota Vikings.
The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Dobbs with the No. 135 overall pick in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft. He played games for that franchise in both 2018 and 2020, though earned no starts.
After Brissett, Dobbs arrived in Cleveland, but he was never given a chance. After Deshaun Watson returned from suspension and Dobbs became a member of the Detroit Lions practice squad, the Browns waived him. Before the Tennessee Titans signed him, he was there for a few weeks, giving Dobbs his first two NFL starts in a quarterback room beset by injuries. Despite losing both games, Dobbs demonstrated his skill and toughness.
Last offseason, Cleveland added Dobbs once more. However, they traded him to Arizona and chose to start rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson alongside former third-string quarterback P.J. Walker. This season, Dobbs started eight games for the Cardinals, but he only managed one victory. But even though it was a victory over the Dallas Cowboys, Dobbs made Arizona competitive.
He led the Vikings to a late fourth-quarter comeback over the Atlanta Falcons on the road last Sunday, despite little knowledge of the playbook and zero live practice time with his teammates. The effort has won Dobbs fans overnight, particularly in Minnesota where the team has already named him the starter next week against the New Orleans Saints.
Vikings Still to Face Major QB Questions in 2024, Despite Addition of Josh Dobbs
Minnesota chose not to add another QB this week, despite rookie Jaren Hall’s status in the league’s concussion protocol and Nick Mullens coming off IR with a back injury. Both are unlikely to play Sunday, meaning Sean Mannion will elevate from the practice squad into a No. 2 role.
The Vikings are going to need to sign at least one or two QBs this offseason, the question is who those players will be and what role they can expect in Minnesota’s offense. Kirk Cousins is out for the year with a torn Achilles, his injury playing the role as the first domino to fall in the crazy sequence that has played out under center in the subsequent 10 days.
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has left open the door that the Vikings may sign Cousins back, but the two sides clearly aren’t in agreement about the contract value or length on a potential deal. If they were, they could have agreed to a multiyear extension in each of the past two offseasons, but that hasn’t happened.
Hall is under contract for the next three years, though Dobbs’ hijacked his opportunity to prove himself a capable starter with his first-week heroics in Atlanta. Mannion has a history in Minnesota that includes two starts but if he were the answer, the Vikings would have known a long time ago.
The franchise may attempt to bring Dobbs back into the fold, but his price might exceed his value with all the leverage his immediate success in Minnesota has afforded him in the minds of executives around the league. Dobbs is 28 years old, has earned less than $7.5 million in his career and must capitalize on his earning potential before it fades.
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