The 49ers may consider sending Josh Dobbs back to the Vikings in order to improve their quarterback situation now that J.J. McCarthy is out for the season.
The Minnesota Vikings and quarterback J.J. McCarthy just got a terrible break when it was announced that the rookie, who was selected with the 10th overall choice in the NFL Draft, will miss the entire season due to knee surgery.
Both of the backup quarterbacks for the San Francisco 49ers are competing for the No. 2 slot behind Brock Purdy on the depth chart.
Brandon Allen is there. And Joshua Dobbs comes next.
In the Niners’ exhibition game against the Tennessee Titans last weekend, both quarterbacks had their good moments.
But because of his superior offensive experience and understanding of the 49ers offense, Allen—who finished the previous season as San Francisco’s third quarterback behind Sam Darnold of the Vikings and Purdy—likely has the advantage over Dobbs. Can you see where this is going?
49ers should explore trading Josh Dobbs to Vikings after J.J. McCarthy news
I’d want to thank Levin T. Black for bringing up this concept, but let’s explore it further.
With his former employer on the field in Week 2 of the regular season, Darnold is suddenly expected to start for Minnesota.
Even if he may have contributed to the revival of his career in his one and only season in the Bay Area, it is illogical to think that he will save the Vikings’ 2024 campaign.
The Niners know this all too well. They didn’t bother re-signing Darnold throughout the summer after rostering him the previous year.
After playing five games in the later part of 2023 and posting a 2-2 record, Dobbs was a free-agent priority.
During that time, he passed for 895 yards and five touchdowns against five interceptions, earning a 76.4 passer rating.
Dobbs is accustomed to the scheme run by head coach Kevin O’Connell and enjoys a (modest) camaraderie with the Vikings’ best players, particularly superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson.
That could be useful. Of course, Dobbs joining the Vikings in a trade would only entail a very high draft pick in the late rounds—possibly even a pick swap, as Black proposed.
However, making a move would break the slight but noticeable impasse San Francisco has at the position and give the 49ers a chance to retain Tanner Mordecai, a promising rookie quarterback who was not selected, on the 53-man roster instead of having to worry about him being placed on waivers or being cut from the practice squad.