The Cleveland Browns could reunite with former quarterback Joshua Dobbs.
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The Cleveland Browns could reunite with former quarterback Joshua Dobbs.
The Cleveland Browns already have one of the NFL’s most intriguing quarterback situations heading into next season—and now, a familiar name is suddenly back in play.
The New England Patriots released veteran backup Joshua Dobbs on Monday after failing to find a trade partner, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The move frees up $3.7 million in cap space for New England and sends the 31-year-old into free agency for the third time in four years.
Dobbs isn’t a stranger to Cleveland. He signed with the Browns in April 2022 and spent most of that season as the primary backup while Jacoby Brissett held things together during Deshaun Watson’s suspension. Cleveland brought him back the following March, only to trade him to Arizona for a fifth-round pick ahead of the 2023 season.
Long-time Browns beat reporter Tony Grossi thinks Cleveland should pick up the phone.
“Seems a no-brainer addition to Browns QB room,” Grossi said.
When the take drew pushback online, Grossi doubled down.
“They’re going to add a 4th (QB), whether you like it or not,” Grossi said in a follow-up response.
Browns QB Room Has Plenty of Questions
The Browns enter the offseason with Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel, and Deshaun Watson under contract. New head coach Todd Monken declared an open competition for the starting job.
“Sure, I think it’s an open competition,” Monken said. “I mean, I don’t why it wouldn’t be an open competition. I don’t mean that saying it harshly, but I don’t think there’s enough on film over the last couple years one way or the other to say, boy, we have our starter at quarterback yet. Whether internally or externally.”
Cleveland has stayed out of the veteran quarterback market this offseason. Malik Willis landed in Miami. Kyler Murray and Tua Tagovailoa found new homes. Kirk Cousins remains available but appears unlikely to head to Cleveland.
Dobbs won’t compete for the starting job. But he’s a low-cost option who knows the organization, brings nine years of NFL experience, and has shown he can function in an emergency. In New England last season, Dobbs appeared in four games and completed 7-of-10 passes for 65 yards, mostly in garbage time.
Over nine NFL seasons with Pittsburgh, Jacksonville, Cleveland, Tennessee, Arizona, Minnesota, San Francisco, and New England, Dobbs has passed for 3,346 yards with 17 touchdowns and 15 interceptions across 27 appearances and 15 starts. He’s gone 3-12 as a starter.
Shedeur Sanders Has Leg Up in Browns’ QB Competition
While Monken has dubbed it an “open competition,” many see Sanders as the frontrunner as the Browns head into their offseason program.
“Let’s save the wild takes and proclamations for what’s likely going to be an annual reboot of an open quarterback competition,” Zac Jackson of The Athletic said. “But let’s also pencil Sanders in as the most likely of the current group to take the race wire-to-wire.
“Where it all goes remains to be seen. But Sanders should get the first crack at things as Cleveland proceeds through the offseason.”
Sanders started the final seven games of his rookie season, going 3-4 with 1,400 passing yards, seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He added 169 rushing yards and a score.