Joshua Dobbs spent less than 12 hours as the Browns' official No. 2 quarterback for 2023.
Cleveland is trading Dobbs and a seventh-round pick to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for a fifth-round pick, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported. The Cardinals later announced the trade, which culminated a whirlwind three-trade day for the franchise.
Earlier in the day, the Cardinals sent former first-round pick Isaiah Simmons to the New York Giants for a seventh-round draft pick, and then sent offensive tackle Josh Jones and a 2024 seventh-round pick to the Houston Texans in exchange for a fifth-rounder.
Thursday began in Cleveland with the Browns announcing they were waiving quarterback Kellen Mond. Browns coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters later Thursday that Dobbs was officially the team's backup quarterback behind Deshaun Watson, meaning only preseason standout Dorian Thompson-Robinson remained as a possible third-string option at the position.
That changed before the end of the work day when Cleveland made another move by sending Dobbs to Arizona.
The deal also had a ripple effect that extended to Mond, who wasn't officially waived on Thursday, per the league's official transaction wire. NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Cleveland did not submit the move Wednesday after trading Dobbs, and plans to keep the former Texas A&M passer on the roster through the conclusion of the preseason.
The trade also marks a second straight season in which Dobbs began his year on Cleveland's roster before heading elsewhere. Last year, Dobbs ended up on Cleveland's practice squad at the end of the preseason, from which the Tennessee Titans signed him during the season. Dobbs returned to Cleveland in the offseason and competed for the backup job before being traded Thursday.
Dobbs heads to the desert to potentially compete for the Cardinals' starting job, which has not yet been settled between veteran Colt McCoy and rookie Clayton Tune. Dobbs has familiarity with Arizona's new offense, which is coordinated by former Browns tight ends and quarterbacks coach Drew Petzing, and should be considered a legitimate candidate to win the job in Arizona while the Cardinals await Kyler Murray's return from ACL surgery.
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