BEREA, Ohio — There's a reason the NFL is commonly referred to as "Not For Long."
Mere hours after head coach Kevin Stefanski declared him to be the team's backup quarterback, the Browns confirmed they have traded Joshua Dobbs to the Arizona Cardinals. CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones was the first to break the news, with NFL Network's Tom Pelissero later adding Cleveland would also be sending a seventh-round draft pick in the deal in exchange for a fifth-round selection in 2024.
The move puts rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson in line to be the Browns' No. 2 QB behind Deshaun Watson following an impressive preseason so far. In addition, The Associated Press' Tom Withers and others say the club will keep Kellen Mond as its third-stringer after previously intending to release him.
With Watson firmly entrenched as QB1 and the journeyman Dobbs having previously agreed to a one-year contract, it appeared the true quarterback battle was between Mond and Thompson-Robinson for the third spot. "DTR" won that battle when Cleveland previously announced it was waiving Mond and defensive end Charles Wiley, and earlier Thursday Stefanski was asked if it was "safe to say" Dobbs would be the backup.
"Yes," the coach told reporters, adding it "felt like the timing was right" to cut Mond loose despite thinking "very, very highly of Kellen the player."
However, those plans changed almost in an instant, and instead Thompson-Robinson looks to be the backup less than four months after being taken in the fifth round out of UCLA. The 23-year-old has more than earned his spot on the roster, completing 65% of his passes for 348 yards and two touchdowns while also running for 65 yards in three exhibition games.
Mond has been with the Browns since last season after being claimed off waivers from the Minnesota Vikings, though he has yet to appear in an official NFL game with Cleveland. In the 2023 preseason, the 24-year-old has completed 58% of his throws for 297 yards and three scores along with an interception.
Dobbs never saw the field while with the Browns, but did serve as the team's primary backup for the first 11 games in 2022 while Jacoby Brissett filled in for a suspended Watson. The 28-year-old then started two games for the Tennessee Titans a year ago before returning to Cleveland, and completed 8 of 16 passes for 77 yards and a pick in one preseason game.
Now headed to Phoenix, Dobbs could get an opportunity to play for the Cardinals as Pro Bowl quarterback Kyler Murray continues to recover from a torn ACL. Another former Brown — veteran backup Colt McCoy — is currently listed as Arizona's starter.
