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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.
Takeaways from Browns one month before NFL draft …
Another Passtronaut landing in Cleveland?
Whereas the Browns’ quarterback plan for 2026 appears to be an open competition mostly between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders, with Dillon Gabriel also on hand, and …
Whereas a fourth quarterback surely will be added, and …
Whereas the fourth quarterback should not be a developmental rookie because Sanders and Gabriel are developmental quarterbacks that deserve all the developmental energy of the coaching staff, and …
Whereas the Browns are not inclined to devote a first- or second-day draft pick on Alabama’s Ty Simpson, despite rumors, for they are wiser to wait for the rich 2027 QB draft class to invest in, and …
Whereas the fourth quarterback should not be a serious contender for the QB1 job and should have attributes that contribute to camaraderie and mentorship in the quarterback room …
I hereby nominate Josh Dobbs for the position of Browns QB4.
Dobbs was acquired twice before by GM Andrew Berry, but never appeared in a game.
In 2022, he was tabbed as Jacoby Brissett’s backup while Watson served an 11-game NFL suspension. When Watson was activated, Dobbs was waived. Rather than stay with the Browns’ practice squad, Dobbs moved to Detroit’s PS. He eventually was poached by Tennessee’s Mike Vrabel and nearly pulled off a win in a playoff-or-bust emergency start.
In 2023, Dobbs was reacquired by Berry. He was on track to be Watson’s backup – until he wasn’t. Moments after coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed Dobbs was QB2 in the week before the season opener, Berry traded Dobbs to Arizona for a fifth-round pick – apparently unbeknownst to the coach (take note, Todd Monken). That left raw, fifth-round rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson as QB2, which didn’t turn out well.
Anyways, Dobbs has now accumulated NFL stops in Pittsburgh (which drafted him in Round 4 in 2017), Jacksonville, Pittsburgh again, Cleveland, Detroit, Tennessee, Cleveland again, Arizona, Minnesota, San Francisco, and New England.
Dobbs was informed on Monday he’ll be released by the Patriots after serving one season as Drake Maye’s backup.
So, why is Dobbs, 31, a good fit for a third stint with the Browns?
He’s well-liked in the locker room, avidly consumes the playbook, is super helpful to younger QBs, and has proven capable of filling in on a moment’s notice and giving a competent, professional effort in a game. He wouldn’t get in the way of the QB1 competition. Rather, he would be a healthy contributor to the room.
Also, he belongs back in close proximity of the NASA Glenn Research Center. Dobbs has a degree in aerospace engineering, has served two internships at NASA’s Kennedy Space Flight Center, and aspires some day to travel to space. Thus, his nickname – the Passtronaut.
Alas, I wouldn’t begrudge Dobbs from signing elsewhere. Berry has discarded him twice already.
What’s up with Jarvis?
Former Browns receiver Jarvis Landry has gained some social media clicks by taking shots at former Browns coach Kevin Stefanski on his fledgling 4th and South podcast with fellow LSU alum Leonard Fournette.
Landry, who played for Stefanski in 2020 and 2021, said the coach wasn’t personable or relatable with players. Landry was less critical than Fournette, who questioned why Stefanski got a second chance as a head coach in Atlanta over qualified minority candidates.
But on a second podcast, Landry was harsher on Stefanski, claiming he secretly handed off play-calling duties to coordinator Alex Van Pelt in 2021 when his offense stalled, and then took them back when things turned around.
“Only thing he got going for him is two-time Coach of the Year,” Landry said. “He's not able to get it done as a play-caller and putting it off on somebody else. Team gets success and he takes over play-calling again.”
Ok, whatever. I’m in favor of setting the record straight, if this actually happened.
Now, I’d like Landry to touch on other topics from his four-year tenure with the Browns in future podcasts.
Such as:
* Why did Odell Beckham Jr. turn on Baker Mayfield during the 2021 season and submarine the QB’s leadership?
* Why didn’t Landry, an alleged team leader, defend Mayfield publicly and try to keep the locker room from dividing?
* Does he agree that the division sown by the viral hate video posted by Beckham’s father was the turning point of Mayfield’s career in Cleveland and was more instrumental in Mayfield’s demise than his shoulder injury?
Looking forward to Landry setting the record straight.
One-liners
The take that Ty Simpson is a better pro QB prospect than Fernando Mendoza smells like an agent-inspired payback …
Ohio State and Alabama both have their pro days on Wednesday. Shouldn’t Berry drive down to Columbus? I mean, I hear the Buckeyes have some good players in the draft …
Now that the Super Bowl champion Seahawks took over No. 1 in wide receiver spending after their record contract with Jaxon Smith-Njigba, can we bury the narrative that Super Bowl teams don’t need an elite receiver …
The Browns signed backup guard Teven Jenkins to a one-year contract with $3.96 million in guarantees. The Panthers signed starting left tackle Rasheed Walker to a one-year contract with $3.215 million in guarantees. What am I missing here? Why wouldn’t the Browns make a better effort to sign Walker?