Joshua Dobbs, Patriots Agree to 2-Year Contract in FA amid Joe Milton Trade Rumors

Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Joshua Dobbs has agreed to a two-year deal with the New England Patriots, where he will serve as a backup to Drake Maye, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.

This follows rumors that the Patriots could consider trading 25-year-old quarterback Joe Milton, per Greg A. Bedard of the Boston Sports Journal, which could make him expendable with a veteran like Dobbs filling his position.

Dobbs was a fourth-round pick in the 2017 NFL draft and has bounced around the league, primarily playing backup on six different NFL teams.

Last season with the 49ers, Dobbs backed up starting quarterback Brock Purdy, throwing 361 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions in two games with one start.

Dobbs standout year came in 2023, when he played for both the Arizona Cardinals and Minnesota Vikings, starting in 12 total games and throwing for 13 touchdowns and 2,464 yards in addition to 10 interceptions with a 63 percent completion rate.

New England finished 4-13 last season behind rookie Drake Maye who threw for 2,276yards, 15 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

Dobbs will be reconnected with his former Tennessee Titans head coach, Mike Vrabel, whom he played under in 2022.

Dobbs' addition to the team is a step in the direction Vrabel referenced last week when discussing plans to strengthen the roster.

"There's a limit to what we will do, I would imagine," Vrabel said per NFL's Kevin Patra. "Again, it's free agency. You have to understand you're probably going to overspend, per se. But we also have to use this as an avenue to strengthen our roster. It's not the end-all-be-all. It's not the only answer. But it's got to contribute to strengthen our roster."

Dobbs isn't the only one eager to team up with Vrabel. Maye, heading into his second year, has also been in communication with Dobbs' former coach.

"(Vrabel) reached out to me, and we got on the phone," Maye said, according to the Patriots team website. "He's been awesome. Obviously, a guy who's done it, played in the league, and won a Super Bowl. You have a respect for what he's done and seen what he's done. I think the biggest thing is he's been a head coach and knows what it's like. So excited to get up to New England and get things going."