Minnesota acquired an Arizona starting QB. Just not the one you’re thinking

The Minnesota Vikings acquired a starting quarterback from the Arizona Cardinals in a blockbuster trade hours before the deadline. Ok, blockbuster may be a stretch, but the Vikings did make a move to bring in Joshua Dobbs from the Cardinals. This probably isn’t the Arizona QB you first thought of, but Minnesota needed to do something after losing Kirk Cousins for the rest of the season to an Achilles injury.

Trade details:

Vikings – Joshua Dobbs and 7th-round pick

Cardinals – 6th-round pick

There had been rumblings about the Vikings potentially going after the other starter in Arizona, Kyler Murray. The former No. 1 overall pick hasn’t played all year recovering from an injury but, according to reports, should be ready to return soon. In the days leading up to Tuesday’s trade deadline, it was suggested that the Vikings could make a run at Murray. The main thing that stood in the way of this happening on such short notice was Murray’s contract, in which Arizona would take a $46.2 million hit (dead money charge next year) if they traded him.

So, while that sounded good and like it could’ve been the long-term answer for the Vikings, there was little to no real chance it was happening. Dobbs may have been the next best bet among immediately available QBs with starting experience. He started every game for the Cardinals this season, and while the wins haven’t exactly piled up, Dobbs has played OK for the most part. Arizona is not a good franchise right now and that can’t be blamed on Dobbs.

No one expects Dobbs to come in and do what Cousins has done this season. Cousins’ campaign ended early with him tied for the NFL lead in passing touchdowns (18), second in passing yards (2,331) and yards per game (291.4). He’s also third in passer rating and fifth in completion percentage. And that’s without Justin Jefferson the past few games.

Just when Minnesota had turned things around and climbed back to .500, Cousins went down the same game. The good news is that Dobbs has weapons to connect with and lean on with the Vikings and should be getting Jefferson back from injury soon. So, Dobbs won’t be asked to do what Cousins had done; all he’ll need to do is “manage” and help steer the ship into January.