‘That was very frustrating with the way they handled that’ – Former Vols QB Josh Dobbs finally addresses the raw deal he got this offseason
Former Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Josh Dobbs got dealt a tough hand this offseason, but he made the best of it.
Former Tennessee Vols quarterback Josh Dobbs signed a free agent deal with the Detroit Lions this past weekend.
It was a bit surprising that Dobbs, who is 31 years old, didn’t land with a team until the week before preseason games start.
But there’s a reason for that, and it’s because of the raw deal he got from the New England Patriots earlier this offseason.
Dobbs signed a two-year deal with the Patriots in 2025. After serving as New England’s backup quarterback last fall, it appeared he was set to return to the same role for the 2026 season.
The Patriots, however, surprisingly signed Tommy DeVito when free agency started in March.
New England then released Dobbs on March 23 — nearly two weeks after free agency started.
The weird timing left Dobbs in quarterback purgatory. He was a premier backup quarterback looking for a team at a time when teams weren’t looking for a premier backup quarterback.
Dobbs admitted on Tuesday that the way New England handled his situation was frustrating.
“It was a weird offseason because it was my first time not having OTAs and everything,” said Dobbs. “And that was just because of the nature of my situation in New England with the timing. That was very frustrating with the way they handled that. But I think it allowed me to have some peace of mind and be able to have this opportunity. So, I’m excited to be here.”
Ultimately, it all worked out well for Dobbs. He got married this offseason, so I’m sure he enjoyed having some time off from OTAs even if it wasn’t ideal from a preparation standpoint, and he landed in a great spot as Jared Goff’s backup.
