On Monday, the New England Patriots and quarterback Josh Dobbs agreed to terms on a two-year, $8 million contract, which includes $3.8 million fully guaranteed, according to multiple reports. He joins a quarterback room that includes 2024 third-overall pick Drake Maye and sixth-round pick Joe Milton III.
Dobbs, a fourth-round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2017 NFL Draft, has bounced around the league in recent years, playing for the Titans, Cardinals, Vikings, and 49ers. His best season came in 2023 while playing for Arizona and Minnesota.
The 29-year-old started the 2023 season with the Cardinals as the team’s starting quarterback, with Kyler Murray recovering from a torn ACL sustained the previous season. Starting in eight games, Dobbs threw for 1,569 yards, eight touchdowns, and five interceptions. He also rushed for three touchdowns and posted an 81.2 passer rating with a 1-7 record. Dobbs was traded to the Vikings mid-season once Murray was able to return.
In five games played with Minnesota in 2023 (four games started), Dobbs passed for 895 yards, five touchdowns, and five interceptions, rushing for 163 yards and three touchdowns. He posted a 2-2 record as a starter with the Vikings in an attempt to make a late-season playoff push that ultimately came up short.
Dobbs was most recently the backup for the 49ers in 2024, filling in adequately for an injured Brock Purdy. He recorded a 0-1 starting record, throwing for 361 yards, two touchdowns, two interceptions, and scoring two rushing touchdowns.
In connection to this move, there has been significant discourse among the New England fan base regarding the future of Joe Milton. Milton, who had one of the most impressive arms coming out of the 2024 NFL Draft, threw several accurate 70-yard deep balls at the NFL Combine and was able to throw a football 80 yards, as well as an orange the entire length of the football field. During the University of Tennessee’s Pro Day, Milton’s practice had to be moved outside to prevent hitting the ceiling of the indoor facility.
Milton had a chance to play during New England’s final regular-season game in 2024 against the Buffalo Bills and impressed, throwing for 241 yards, one touchdown, rushing for a score, and recording a 111.4 QB rating. He also threw the second-hardest recorded pass in NFL history—which fell incomplete—according to Next Gen Stats.
Some fans argue that Milton increased his value in the NFL and should be traded for a 2025 day-three draft pick, while others advocate keeping the 25-year-old on the roster.
Nonetheless, Dobbs is a quality backup who brings starting experience. He will serve as a backup to Drake Maye in some capacity next season, while Milton’s future with New England remains uncertain.
