The New England Patriots officially have their new backup quarterback, signing journeyman Joshua Dobbs on Tuesday.
The team did not disclose terms, but it was originally reported last week to be a two-year, $8 million contract with $3.8 million fully guaranteed, per NFL Network.
Dobbs will back up Drake Maye in New England after Jacoby Brissett left for the Arizona Cardinals earlier this month.
Dobbs, 30, spent last season with the San Francisco 49ers. He took over late in their Week 17 game against the Detroit Lions when Brock Purdy left with an injury and started in Week 18 against the Arizona Cardinals. He went a combined 32-for-47 for 361 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions plus two rushing touchdowns in those appearances.
Stints as a backup for Pittsburgh (2018, 2020) and Tennessee (2022) led Dobbs to seize on some unlikely opportunities in 2023.
The Arizona Cardinals acquired him from the Cleveland Browns just before the season to be their starter while Kyler Murray continued to rehab from an ACL tear. After eight starts, he was traded to the Minnesota Vikings and made four starts for them after a season-ending Achilles injury to Kirk Cousins.
In 23 career appearances (3-12 record in 15 starts), Dobbs has completed 62.7 percent of his passes for 3,281 yards, 17 TDs and 15 interceptions. He has added 520 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on the ground.
The Patriots also reportedly agreed to a two-year contract worth up to $12 million with free agent center Garrett Bradbury, ESPN reported Tuesday.
Bradbury, 29, started all 17 regular-season games and lone playoff game for the Minnesota Vikings last season, his sixth year in the league. The Vikings drafted him in the first round (18th overall) in 2019 and all 92 of his career regular-season and postseason appearances have been starts.
The Patriots had a hole at the position after releasing longtime starting center David Andrews last week.
–Field Level Media
