Browns change mind and trade Joshua Dobbs, anoint rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson QB2
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
It turned out the Browns were as wowed by rookie quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson as everyone else.
In a shocking – and risky – development, the team traded QB2 Joshua Dobbs to the Arizona Cardinals and elevated Thompson-Robinson to be Deshaun Watson’s primary backup.
The news came just a few hours after Kevin Stefanski seemed to end the speculation that DTR could unseat Dobbs.
The coach was asked directly if it’s safe to say that Dobbs would head into the season as the No. 2 quarterback.
“Yes,” Stefanski responded.
When asked the reasoning behind it, the coach sounded less emphatic, however.“Yeah, we really like that quarterback room just in total," he said. "You know, really excited about where all those guys are. Confident in all the backups. They play a huge role in that room.”Given another chance to say something positive about Dobbs, the coach said, “I’ve been very blessed to be around some great backup quarterbacks, some young guys, some old guys, different styles of players. I think it’s an important fit in that room. That’s why I’m so excited about our room in total, with everybody we have in there. Just can get a lot of work done. It’s a great room where they push each other, they challenge each other, they support each other and I think all of our guys fit that mold.”
Joshua Dobbs never saw a trade coming, even after tossing four interceptions in his last practice with the Browns. (Cleveland Browns)
Earlier in the day, the Browns announced they waived Kellen Mond, who had competed with DTR for QB3. But the paperwork never was sent in and Mond’s release essentially was rescinded. Mond -- for now -- stands as QB3.
So that means the Browns will go into a season of high, high hopes with no experienced backup quarterback behind Watson. Unless they add one after Tuesday's 53 cuts league-wide.
Dobbs had a breakout training camp a year ago, but was less effective this summer after the Browns re-signed him and guaranteed his contract for $2 million.
In his only preseason appearance against Washington, Dobbs was 8 of 16 for 77 yards and an interception. He was sacked once.
Dobbs was intercepted four times in the Browns final training camp practice on Thursday, but it didn’t seem to be the impetus for trading him.
The reason for the trade, said a source, was a call from the Cardinals. They offered a fifth-round pick in 2024 for Dobbs and the Browns’ seventh-round pick. The Browns used a fifth-round pick in 2023 to select Thompson-Robinson, a fifth-year player at UCLA.
The Browns can’t seem to make up their minds about Dobbs
After his stellar preseason last year, he served as the primary backup to interim starter Jacoby Brissett during Watson’s 11-game suspension. When Watson was eligible to return, the Browns released Dobbs and kept Mond as QB3. Dobbs went on to Detroit and finished the season making two starts with Tennessee.
As a free agent, Dobbs almost signed with the Cardinals. But the Browns confided a mistake in letting Dobbs go and guaranteed their offer of $2 million. Dobbs felt his career would be better enhanced by being a part of a playoff-caliber team as a backup than perhaps getting play time with a non-playoff team.
The fast emergence of Thompson-Robinson changed everything.
Appearing in each of the Browns’ three preseason games, DTR completed 30 of 46 passes for 348 yards and two touchdowns for a passer rating of 102.45.. He wasn’t intercepted and he was sacked only one time. He also ran 13 times for 65 yards, threw a block on a Demetric Felton TD run in one game, and was penalized for an illegal block in another.
