Josh Dobbs' $2 million contract pales next to Deshaun Watson's $230 million. But at least it's fully guaranteed, like Watson's.
Browns go the extra mile to bring back Josh Dobbs for backup quarterback role
You must have an active subscription to read this story.
Click Here to subscribe Now!
Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
If all goes well for the Browns this season, Deshaun Watson won’t miss a game. Safe to say, he needs all the work he can get after missing 700 days during his off-the-field travails in 2020 and 2021 with the Houston Texans.
But if Watson does miss parts of games -- or any complete games -- the Browns are in better shape today after luring back Josh Dobbs to replace departed Jacoby Brissett as their primary backup.
Dobbs agreed to a one-year deal on Monday to return to the Browns. NFL Media reported Dobbs’ deal to be for $2 million fully guaranteed. That guarantee virtually assures his role as Watson’s full-time backup.
When the Browns waived Dobbs in December after Watson was finally activated to the roster, they elected to keep untested Kellen Mond because he was under a multiple-year contract.
Knowing Brissett would move on – he signed a one-year deal with the Washington Commanders in free agency -- it was important for GM Andrew Berry to get back a quarterback familiar with Kevin Stefanski’s offense, who also flashed similar athletic traits of Watson in the 2022 preseason. That spares Stefanski and his staff of devoting time in training camp to breaking in yet another quarterback.
Dobbs was signed to the Detroit Lions practice squad after he left the Browns and then was poached by the Tennessee Titans, who needed an emergency starter for the final two games with the AFC South division on the line. Dobbs immediately stepped in and performed well enough in two losses to verify to the Browns what they’d seen in preseason.
In his first two NFL career starts in real games, Dobbs completed 40 of 68 passes for 411 yards, with two touchdowns and two interceptions.
Dobbs had interest from Arizona and Tennessee, but chose to re-sign with the team that waived him in December.
“I think Andrew Berry did a terrific job, along with the coaching staff, of making Josh feel wanted and found a balance of expressing that without pushing too hard,” Mike McCartney, Dobbs’ agent, told TheLandOnDemand.com. “Ultimately players want to go where they’re wanted. There are a lot of factors involved. But where you’re wanted matters.”
Berry wasn’t comfortable leaving the backup job to Mond, who was claimed by the Browns after the 2022 preseason and has attempted only three passes in one NFL game with the Minnesota Vikings in 2021.
At the NFL Combine last month, Berry said of the backup QB job, “We look at it as someone who can certainly function in a multi-game stretch if our starter was down and really give us a chance to win the game. But obviously there has to be some blend within the room from a personality standpoint, [and] makeup standpoint, that the No. 2 quarterback understands his role on our team.”
Like Watson, Dobbs, 28, is a native of Georgia near Atlanta. He also shares the same personal QB coach, Quincy Avery, and frequently worked out with Watson before they became Browns teammates.
Bubba smiling
Two other signings by the Browns on Monday had to please new special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone.
The Browns re-signed linebacker Jordan Kunaszyk and signed Atlanta Falcons cornerback Mike Ford. Both figure to be part of Ventrone’s rebuilt core on special teams.
Kunaszyk was pressed into starting duty on defense for two games last year after injuries devastated the position group. But he initially made the roster on special teams. He was involved in 79 percent of snaps on special teams for former coordinator Mike Priefer.
Ford, who will be 28 in August, has made nine starts in five seasons with Detroit, Denver and Atlanta, but essentially has been a special teams core player since being undrafted out of Southeast Missouri State in 2018. He had a career-high 83 percent snap participation on special teams with Atlanta last year.
