Patriots may have just gifted Jets a backup QB with latest decision

The New York Jets may have just received a very unexpected windfall from the New England Patriots, as their backup quarterback competition just got reinforced via the addition of a very qualified candidate for the top deputy job.

The Patriots released backup quarterback Josh Dobbs after being unable to find a trade partner for him. This comes on the heels of agreeing to a two-year contract with backup Tommy DeVito earlier in the offseason. The man they call "The Passtronaut", due to his aerospace engineering background, is looking for a new home.

Dobbs might be a higher-upside option than some of the veterans on the market, and he could be had for nothing after the Patriots decided to give up on trying to wring a draft pick out of GMs like Darren Mougey.

Jets could sign Josh Dobbs after Patriots release backup QB

Dobbs has bounced around the league since coming into the NFL as a fourth-round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers way back in 2017. The 2023 season, which was split between the Arizona Cardinals and Minnesota Vikings, was Dobbs' peak in the NFL to this point.

Dobbs went 1-7 filling in for an injured Kyler Murray, throwing eight touchdowns and running for three more while tossing just five interceptions. Dobbs was sent to the Minnesota Vikings when their own quarterback problems necessitated a move, and he managed to win a few starts despite minimal practice time.

Dobbs, who just turned 31 in January, is not only able to pick up an offense quickly and distribute the ball effectively, but he can make more plays with his legs than some of the other options on the market. That may appeal to head coach Aaron Glenn after his pursuit of Justin Fields last offseason.

Dobbs is younger and much less injury-prone than Tyrod Taylor, won't cost anything to bring to town (unlike Will Levis), and would likely jump at the opportunity to take a QB2 job where there is a non-zero chance of getting on the field. Behind Maye in New England, that was never going to happen.

The best way for the Jets to build a quarterback room consists of Smith as the starter, a player in Dobbs' tier as the backup, and a toolsy developmental project on Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft. Only one of those three boxes is currently checked, though Dobbs should help fulfill yet another one of those qualifications.