The New England Patriots are shaking up their quarterback depth chart for the season ahead.
On Monday, their plans to cut ties with one of Drake Maye's backups came to the forefront.
According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Josh Dobbs will be on his way out of New England.
The report indicates that a move hasn't actually happened yet. But Rapoport writes that the Pats first sought to trade Dobbs. Once they didn't find a taker, which is apparently the case now, the "plan" is to release Dobbs.
When that happens, Dobbs will become a free agent, able to sign with any of the other 31 teams in the NFL (or even back with New England).
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The reason it seems the Patriots have deemed Dobbs expendable is Tommy DeVito. Earlier in the offseason, New England gave DeVito a two-year, $4.4 million contract to remain with the Patriots.
Apparently, they may have decided that DeVito is fit to be the backup to Maye going forward.
In 2025, Dobbs was QB2, and after DeVito was acquired from the New York Giants, he became the third-stringer.
At least as it stands right now, DeVito is getting a promotion, and Dobbs will be looking for a new job.
Of course, as it works with all star QBs, no one actually wants to see the backup have to play. The Patriots will only go as far as Maye will take them -- and this past season, that was all the way to a Super Bowl appearance.
But New England also knows it's important to have the right guys behind Maye on the depth chart, and for now, Dobbs looks to be off that list while DeVito remains.
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