What Josh Dobbs Trade Means for Each Cardinals QB

Where does the recent addition of Josh Dobbs leave the rest of the quarterback room?

The Arizona Cardinals made three separate trades on Thursday that kept themselves, fans, and us in the media busy from start to finish. 

Isaiah Simmons was the first player to depart Arizona after being dealt to the New York Giants before Josh Jones followed out the door in a deal with the Houston Texans. 

The third (and hopefully final) move of the day came in an agreement with the Cleveland Browns to acquire QB Josh Dobbs. The Cardinals sent a fifth-round pick to Cleveland in exchange for Dobbs and a seventh-round pick, all in the 2024 NFL Draft. 

While not earth-shattering by any stretch, Dobbs does bring a few notable attributes to the table. He's been in the league since 2017, is considered to be highly intelligent and can make plays with his feet. 

Most importantly, he's familiar with new Cardinals OC Drew Petzing after previously spending time together in Cleveland. 

This move could have implications shortly down the road while perhaps revealing something about the health of Kyler Murray - which is where we'll start. 

What Josh Dobbs Trade Means for Each Cardinals QB

Kyler Murray

Murray is still recovering from a torn ACL suffered late in the 2022 season and his timetable for return is currently unknown. Should the Cardinals opt to keep him on the PUP list, he'll miss at least the first four games of the regular season.

Murray has reportedly progressed through rehab well but still walks with a noticeable limp. He admitted to reporters that despite aiming for a Week 1 return in the team's YouTube series "Flight Plan", he wasn't actually sure when he would be back in action. 

In terms of roster spots, Dobbs' presence isn't moving the needle for Murray. He'll reclaim the throne whenever he is ready and able to return to action. However, the Cardinals have been adamant they'll be cautious with their franchise quarterback and won't rush him back until he is 100% prepared physically and mentally.  

The trade for another quarterback - with the preseason finale just two days away - signals that perhaps Murray will remain on the PUP list to begin the regular season. 

Colt McCoy

McCoy has been in the driver's seat to be Arizona's starter through most of the offseason, but rookie Clayton Tune has indeed made things interesting. Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon refused to name a starter earlier this week, but even with the addition of Dobbs, McCoy's starting spot for Week 1 is likely secured, so long as he is healthy.

His durability is where this conversation really gets interesting - McCoy will be 37 by the beginning of the season and had elbow surgery after 2022 concluded. The Cardinals have kept McCoy's arm safe by giving him "off" days where he didn't throw in training camp, he's had just 12 attempts in Arizona's two preseason games thus far, and isn't expected to play much - if at all - in their preseason finale. 

McCoy is set to be the starter Week 1, but by either injury or poor play could very well find himself back on the bench as Arizona navigates a fairly tough opening to the 2023 season. 

Dobbs' impact on McCoy's place on the team won't be immediate. Though Dobbs is a veteran with mobility and familiar with OC Drew Petzing (which could advance his understanding of the playbook), McCoy still projects to be the opening day starter. 

Perhaps McCoy hangs on to the starting job until Murray returns - but what do the Cardinals do then? 

A difficult decision has to be made. With Murray back in action at some point, one of either Dobbs, Tune or McCoy will be left out of the picture. It's unlikely Tune is cut after flashing some developmental potential and will Monti Ossenfort really release a quarterback weeks after giving up a fifth-round pick for him? 

Things will be very interesting for McCoy after the first few weeks of the season. If we're projecting into the magical crystal ball, his time in the desert may be coming to an end. 

Clayton Tune

The rookie quarterback has shown he's capable of being a real asset in Arizona down the road, though Dobbs' recent arrival doesn't project well for his immediate standing in the depth chart. 

Simply put, the Cardinals wouldn't have traded for Dobbs if they loved what they saw out of their quarterback room, and that includes Tune. While he's athletic and has a good feel for the pocket, he has failed to show two major things an NFL quarterback should possess: Ability to go through reads and hitting receivers outside of the numbers/near the sideline. 

There's still plenty of time for Tune to develop into something, but Arizona didn't just trade for a third-string quarterback. 

Long-term Tune should be fine. Dobbs is on a one-year deal and it was a bit much to ask Tune to be a starter from day one. But a new face in the quarterback room doesn't spell out great reviews of Tune's performance thus far. 

David Blough/Jeff Driskel

We're lumping both in here simply because they're bound to suffer the same fate. 

Driskel hasn't played in either of the two preseason games and has been out of practice for weeks now with an undisclosed injury. 

Blough has been relegated to garbage time in both preseason games and was QB3 on a Cardinals roster without Murray. 

With Dobbs pushing both down the depth chart, neither of the two passers are likely to be on Arizona's roster after final cuts are made ahead of the regular season.

Perhaps Blough lands on the practice squad, but Driskel has been M.I.A. and may have to find a new home altogether. 

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