Joshua Dobbs Trade Grades: Vikings Add QB Help After Kirk Cousins’s Injury

Minnesota adds the former Cardinals quarterback who has started eight games this season, but the Vikings are planning to start fifth-round rookie Jaren Hall against the Falcons on Sunday.

The Vikings had no choice but to make a move. On Tuesday, they did.

After Kirk Cousins tore his Achilles during the fourth quarter of a 24–10 win over the Packers on Sunday, Minnesota had few options. The Vikings could either turn to rookie fifth-round pick Jaren Hall out of BYU or find another option with experience.

General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah took the latter route, trading for Cardinals quarterback Joshua Dobbs. According to ESPN, Minnesota is sending a 2024 sixth-round pick to the Cardinals while also receiving a seventh-rounder in return. Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said on SiriusXM that Minnesota is preparing to start Hall on Sunday against the Falcons.

Dobbs has completed 62.8% of his attempts for 1,569 yards (5.9 YPA) with eight touchdowns and five interceptions this season in place of Kyler Murray :: Matt Kartozian/USA TODAY Sports

Dobbs has started all eight games this season for Arizona, while Kyler Murray worked his way back from a torn ACL sustained last December. In Murray’s place, Dobbs completed 62.8% of his attempts for 1,569 yards (5.9 YPA) with eight touchdowns and five interceptions.

For his career, Dobbs has started 10 games, tossing 10 touchdowns against eight picks. Minnesota will be his seventh team after stops with the Steelers, Jaguars, Browns, Lions, Titans and Cardinals.

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While those numbers aren’t great, they’re potentially good enough to keep Minnesota afloat in the chase for an NFC wild-card berth. The Vikings (4–4) are two games behind the Lions in the NFC North but are riding a three-game winning streak, and, if the season ended today, would be the conference’s seventh seed.

In Minnesota, Dobbs will have a better chance to succeed. The Vikings have a breakout rookie in receiver Jordan Addison, who has posted seven touchdowns in eight games. Additionally, superstar wideout Justin Jefferson should come back relatively soon from a hamstring injury that landed him on injured reserve after Week 5 against the Chiefs. He’s eligible to return as early as Week 10.

• Vikings grade: B

As for the Cardinals (1–7), this was a smart move. General manager Monti Ossenfort is trying to stockpile picks, and although this is just moving up a bit on Day 3, it’s still more ammunition in a potential trade.

On Monday, coach Jonathan Gannon stated the Cardinals would either be starting Clayton Tune or Murray this weekend against the Browns, making Dobbs destined for the bench. Now, Arizona gets a bit of value instead.

• Cardinals grade: B