They Did It — Vikings Trade for New QB
The Minnesota Vikings did not stay dormant at quarterback after Kirk Cousins was lost for the season last weekend.
They Did It — Vikings Trade for New QB
The club splashed in a significant way, acquiring Joshua Dobbs from the Arizona Cardinals at the NFL’s trade deadline, bolstering a QB room already featuring rookie Jaren Hall and veterans Nick Mullens and Sean Mannion.
It is unclear if Dobbs will be tabbed as the immediate starter for Sunday’s showdown at the Atlanta Falcons or if he’ll remain on the bench until needed.
NFL Network‘s Ian Rapoport tweeted early Monday afternoon, “The Vikings are trading for Arizona Cardinals QB Josh Dobbs, with plenty of starting experience, per me and Tom Pelissero. It helps make up for the loss of Kirk Cousins. And gives MIN a chance.”
Dobbs indeed started all eight Cardinals games in 2023 before the club announced Monday he’d hit the bench in favor of Kyler Murray or Clayton Tune. In eight games, Arizona tallied a 1-7 record while Dobbs threw for 1,569 passing yards, 8 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions.
The Vikings new quarterback is also mobile, accounting for 32.3 rushing yards per game in 2023.
Rapoport also added, “Josh Dobbs has started since Week 1, now gives Minnesota a QB who has done it all, plus allows them a backstop in case Jaren Hall isn’t ready.”
Five days might be a stretch to learn the Vikings offense, so Hall could still be on deck for Week 9. After that, though, Dobbs would be ready, as Justin Jefferson and Nick Mullens are eligible to return from injured reserve, too.
Here’s where Dobbs ranks among all NFL QBs in 2023:
ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweeted about the trade package, “Cardinals traded Josh Dobbs and a 7th-round pick to the Vikings for a 6th-round pick, per source.”
For those keeping score at home, these are the Vikings current options at quarterback, in order of starting experience:
- Nick Mullens
- Joshua Dobbs
- Sean Mannion
- Jaren Hall
Dobbs would encounter a markedly different setup in Minnesota, at least per talent. Arizona is on a downswing and in the driver’s seat to earn the 2024 NFL Draft’s first selection, while Minnesota is a winner of three straight games after a clumsy 1-4 start.
Dobbs ran a 4.6 forty-yard dash in 2017 before being selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 4th Round of that year’s draft.
He’ll turn 29 in January.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
You must be logged in to post a comment.