The Minnesota Vikings found their quarterback to keep this season's playoff chances afloat, thanks to a trade right at the deadline.
Hours before the NFL trade deadline, the Vikings acquired journeyman quarterback Josh Dobbs from the Arizona Cardinals, two days after Kirk Cousins suffered a torn Achilles tendon in a victory over the Green Bay Packers that will end his season.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Vikings acquired Dobbs, and a 2024 seventh-round draft pick, in exchange for a sixth-round choice.
Comp update: Cardinals traded Josh Dobbs and a 7th-round pick to the Vikings for a 6th-round pick, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 31, 2023
Dobbs, 28, started the season fast for the Arizona Cardinals, thrust into the starting lineup in place of Kyler Murray, but struggled a bit with ball security in recent weeks.
Making eight starts for the Cardinals, Dobbs completed 62.8 percent of his passes so far this season while passing for 1,569 yards with eight touchdowns to five interceptions. Dobbs opened the 2023 campaign with a streak of four straight games without an interception, before turning it over five times in the past four weeks.
Dobbs lands in a significantly more dynamic supporting cast than he had in Arizona, with the likes of wide receivers Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison to throw to, and a more consistently dominant offensive line in front of him than the one had had become accustomed to with the Cardinals.
Minnesota now has an experienced veteran to try to steady the ship, as the Vikings look to make up a two-game deficit on the Detroit Lions in the NFC North and keep pace in the NFC Wild Card race.
Stream the NFL on CBS live all season long on Paramount+. Try it FREE!
Meanwhile, for Arizona, Dobbs' departure clears the way for Murray's potential return in the coming weeks, and the possibility of drafting either USC's Caleb Williams, UNC's Drake Maye, or another of the top quarterback prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Originally chosen by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft, Dobbs owns a career 61.8 completion percentage, passing for 2,025 yards with 10 touchdowns to eight interceptions in 16 games.
