Cardinals Might Have Landed Next Geno Smith

Opportunity is hard to come by in the NFL, and this past week is a prime example of that after thousands of players were cut from their respective preseason rosters.

Some will land on other teams while others have played their last down of football without knowing it.

New Arizona Cardinals quarterback Josh Dobbs knows this all too well. After being drafted in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft, he has now switched teams seven times after being acquired from the Cleveland Browns in exchange for a fifth-round pick.

When meeting with reporters for the first time, Dobbs touched on what the possibility of starting in Arizona means to him:

"I've put in a ton of work. I have a ton of sweat equity. I'm extremely prepared for the opportunity. But that doesn't mean I'm ever complacent. Using every hour, every minute of the day to always turn over the next stone to continue to prepare for that opportunity and whatever opportunities come after it."

Dobbs will be competing with Clayton Tune for the opportunity to steady the boat in Arizona until Kyler Murray returns. After remaining on the PUP list, he'll be out for at least the first four games of the season.

The Cardinals brought Dobbs in for a few different reasons. He's considered to be highly intelligent and mobile, though his greatest asset could be familiarity with OC Drew Petzing and QB coach Israel Woolfork thanks to their previous time spent together in Cleveland.

There's hope Dobbs (28-years-old) can make the most of his new opportunity in the desert, similar to NFC West rival quarterback Geno Smith, who has seen a career revival with the Seattle Seahawks.

Pittsburgh Steelers analyst Craig Wolfley likened the two in a recent radio spot with Arizona Sports' Wolf and Luke:

"Highly intelligent. Very mobile - and I will say this: He is fearless. ... He reminds me a little bit like Geno Smith. A guy who is very accurate, can run and is mobile with the ball and maybe it takes a few years of catching on with a couple of teams before you begin find yourself or find your traction. He is just one of those guys who is fun to watch, fun to talk to."

Clip:

.@steelers analyst @CraigWolfley told @wolf987FM and @LukeLapinski that Josh Dobbs could be a quarterback like Geno Smith who just needs to catch on somewhere.

Listen to the full interview: https://t.co/HROPPNBIns

Listen to hour No. 2: https://t.co/25irOd1Gos pic.twitter.com/giJdVAvqcB
— Wolf & Luke on Arizona Sports (@WolfandLuke) August 25, 2023

All Steelers Publisher Noah Strackbein says Dobbs was a reference point for Ben Roethlisberger during their time together in Pittsburgh:

"Josh Dobbs never got a real opportunity in Pittsburgh after the team drafted Mason Rudolph, but there was no hiding how highly they thought of his intelligence. Ben Roethlisberger would frequently mention talking plays out with Dobbs on the sideline during games and in practice," Strackbein said.

"He has all the football I.Q. and athleticism to be a starting quarterback, it’s just a matter of being able to make the throws in games. We saw a stint of what he’s capable of in Tennessee last season, and if he can grow from that, he should be able to take that next step in Arizona."

The Cardinals travel to take on the Washington Commanders for Week 1 of the regular season. Arizona head coach Jonathan Gannon said he won't name a starter prior to kickoff, though if Dobbs can mimic the same storyline as Smith, the organization certainly wouldn't complain.