It looks like the Vikings are going to add a QB via a trade following the announcement that starter Kirk Cousins is out for the rest of the season because of a torn Achilles. And no, it's not Tom Brady.
According to NFL insider Tom Pellisero the Vikings will acquire Josh Dobbs from Arizona. Dobbs has started the first eight games of the season for the 1-7 Cardinals but was benched after Sunday's loss to Baltimore. Kyler Murray is expected to be available soon following an ACL tear. Monday, Arizona's head coach announced that fifth-round rookie Clayton Tune will start against the Browns in Cleveland on Sunday if Murray isn't fully ready to return to play.
That made Dobbs expendable. The Vikings send a sixth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft to Arizona who also included a conditional seventh-round pick in 2024 along with Dobbs. The Vikings were up against the Tuesday, 3:00 p.m. Central Time NFL Trade Deadline so they didn't have much time to make a move.
The 28-year old Dobbs has been in-and-out of the league for seven seasons. He's spent time in Pittsburgh and Tennessee in addition to the Cardinals. He has thrown for 1,569 yards, 8 touchdowns and 5 interceptions so far in 2023.
"It is what it is," said former Viking QB and current CBS NFL Analyst Rich Gannon who spoke to WCCO's Chad Hartman Tuesday afternoon. "Dobbs kept them (Arizona) in a lot of games. For his career he's 1-9. What's my thought? He's got some experience. He's been around. He's respected by his peers and it gives the Vikings some depth at that position."
Gannon explains Dobbs as a player that isn't going to make a lot of mistakes but also isn't a player that can "make a lot of plays."
The Vikings play at Atlanta Sunday and coach Kevin O'Connell has yet to name an official starter. Rookie Jaren Hall came into last Sunday's game in Green Bay after Cousins was hurt. The Vikings also have QBs Nick Mullens who's been in injured reserve with a bad back, and Sean Mannion who is on the practice squad.
Gannon says there is "no way" Dobbs could be ready to start this Sunday.
None of the QBs on the current Viking roster have extensive playing time, unlike Dobbs who started eight games so far this season but will take considerable time to learn the offense.
Also being announced Tuesday ahead of the trade deadline, the Vikings are trading Guard Ezra Cleveland to Jacksonville in return for a sixth-round pick.
Cleveland was a second round pick who had been starting for the Vikings. After he was hurt a couple of weeks ago, veteran Dalton Risner started against San Francisco and Green Bay, both wins, and games in which Risner played well.