At the halfway mark of the 2023 NFL season, quarterback Josh Dobbs has already endured a whirlwind campaign for the ages.
From going through training camp with the Browns to starting eight games for the Cardinals to rallying the Vikings to a comeback victory just five days after being acquired at the trade deadline, it’s been a rollercoaster journey for Dobbs.
Nonetheless, his ability to rise to the occasion during adverse times should secure the journeyman signal-caller a significant payday this offseason.
One AFC executive informed ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler that Dobbs is destined for “pretty good money” on his next deal as a 2024 free agent. According to the exec, Dobbs has solidified himself as a “high-level No. 2” quarterback who can also serve as a spot starter if needed.
Dobbs isn’t the only quarterback on Minnesota’s roster who will seek substantial compensation this offseason.
Kirk Cousins, who was having the best season of his career — ranking second in the NFL in passing yards (2,331) — before suffering a torn Achilles in Week 8, is set to hit free agency in March. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, “a return to Minnesota should be considered a viable solution” for Cousins, who won’t be fully recovered by the time teams are eligible to make contract offers.
Dobbs has been a nice story this season, but Minnesota would be wise not to hitch their future to a quarterback with a 1-9 career record. In the best-case scenario, the Vikings re-sign both quarterbacks, giving the team a premier signal-caller in Cousins and a high-end QB2 in Dobbs to back up a 35-year-old starter coming off injury.
Ultimately, paying both players could prove too steep for the Vikings, who have star wideout Justin Jefferson’s mega contract extension looming. Unless the Vikings plan to maneuver their way up the draft board to secure a blue-chip quarterback prospect, re-signing Cousins should be the top priority.
As for Dobbs, he should settle in nicely as a stop-gap solution for a team looking to develop a young quarterback in the wing — not a bad gig for Dobbs, who had attempted just 17 passes in the NFL before last season.
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NFL
Lamar Jackson on pace to reach feat that hasn’t happened since 1994
The Ravens (7-2) have been one of the most dominant teams in the NFL, outscoring their opponents 130-49 in the last four games. QB Lamar Jackson is a big reason why, and he is on pace to do something that hasn’t been done in almost three decades. Jackson leads all quarterbacks in completion percentage (71.5) and rushing yards (440) this season. The only quarterback to lead the league in both categories in a single season since the merger was Hall of Fame QB Steve Young in 1994, per NFL on CBS. There is still a lot of season left but Jackson could certainly become the second quarterback to reach the feat and earn his second NFL MVP in 2023. Young won the MVP for his 1994 season. Jackson has Baltimore’s offense humming as he has thrown for 1,954 yards and nine touchdowns. He has also posted 440 yards and five touchdowns on the ground, which has played in role in the Ravens having the league’s best rushing attack, averaging 160.3 yards on the ground per game. Veteran LB Kyle Van Noy, who joined the team in September, believes Jackson is still underrated and is happy to finally be on his team. “I don’t think he gets enough credit of how good of a leader he is,” Van Noy said on “The Pat McAfee Show.” “I’m really impressed to see him work and be able to work with a guy like that. … It’s just fun to be around and chill with him and be part of the gang.” Jackson will have to do his best to stay hot, however, as the Ravens host the Browns (5-3) in Week 10. Cleveland has won three of its last four games with the help of its defense, which is allowing the least total yards per game (234.8). If Baltimore can get the big divisional win, it’ll only grow its lead in a tight race for the AFC North.
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MLB
Dodgers showing interest in former All-Star OF
The Dodgers have expressed interest in Teoscar Hernández, reports Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times (X link). General manager Brandon Gomes told reporters Wednesday afternoon that a corner outfielder was among the items on the team’s offseason checklist (relayed by Fabian Ardaya of the Athletic). Hernández is one of the higher-upside bats on a market light on free agent hitting. A two-time Silver Slugger award winner, he hit .283/.333/.519 for the Blue Jays between 2020-22. He hits the open market on the heels of an underwhelming platform season, however. After an offseason trade to the Mariners, Hernández put together a .258/.305/.435 line across 678 trips to the plate. He’s still a solid source of right-handed power, connecting on 26 home runs this past season. It was an atypically streaky offensive performance, as excellent showings in June and August were muted by below-average play in the other four months. Seattle made the somewhat surprising decision not to issue Hernández a qualifying offer. Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto explained Tuesday the club wanted to pivot in a more contact-oriented direction. Even at his best, Hernández brings a lot of swing-and-miss. He fanned in 31.1% of his plate appearances this year and has gone down on strikes more than 28% of the time through the past four seasons. The profile is built more around power than strong on-base skills. MLBTR nevertheless predicts Hernández to find a four-year pact that pays around $20M annually, slotting him as the No. 12 free agent. He recently turned 31 and is arguably the No. 4 position player in the class behind Shohei Ohtani, Cody Bellinger and Matt Chapman. Hernández has a bat-first reputation but logged nearly 1200 right field innings with Seattle, grading as a league average corner outfield defender by Defensive Runs Saved and Outs Above Average. Los Angeles can go in a number of directions on the position player front. They’re presently shorthanded in the corner outfield and designated hitter mix after Jason Heyward, J.D. Martinez and David Peralta reached free agency. L.A. will obviously be among the teams pursuing Ohtani and could look to bring Martinez and/or Heyward back depending on how the offseason progresses. Mookie Betts showed the ability to play an effective second base in addition to his Gold Glove caliber outfield work. Gomes indicated the Dodgers would continue to get Betts into action at the keystone, noting that the club plans to give plenty of shortstop work to Gavin Lux. The 25-year-old infielder missed the entire season after tearing the ACL in his right knee during spring training. The Dodgers have glove-first veteran Miguel Rojas under contract but could kick him into a utility role if Lux steps into something approaching an everyday shortstop job. Meanwhile, Gomes added that younger infielders Miguel Vargas and Michael Busch could find their way into the corner outfield (via Ardaya). They’ve each seen limited time in left field in the minors but are primarily second and third basemen. Neither player has hit well against MLB pitching in limited looks but they have accomplished offensive track records in Triple-A. Given the multi-positional flexibility throughout the roster, the Dodgers can go in a number of ways over the coming months.
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NBA
James Harden sounds off on Sixers’ Tyrese Maxey following trade to Clippers
While James Harden left no doubt in anyone’s mind that he had some bad blood with Philadelphia 76ers president Daryl Morey, it appears to be virtually all love between the guard and his former teammates. Following the trade which sent Harden to the Los Angeles Clippers, the 10-time NBA All-Star was asked about one player specifically — Tyrese Maxey, and he gave a glowing review. The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Gina Mizell revealed the interesting bit the 34-year-old said about Maxey. “I can only expect great things from Tyrese, just because of the amount of work I know he puts in,” Harden said Sunday afternoon from the Clippers’ team hotel in Manhattan. “He’s in the gym. He loves it, so the results are going to happen for him in a great way. I’m excited for him. “Hopefully, he can have an opportunity to make an All-Star team and really show his game. I’m definitely excited for his growth and his maturity.” The comments come after Maxey gave his own extremely positive review of Harden, whom he credited with helping to improve his court vision and the fact that the former Sixers guard took him “under his wing.” “I texted [Harden] telling him I love him and I appreciate him … One thing that he really instilled in me is confidence. I’ve always been a confident person, but he made me even more confident than I already was … He took me under his wing, taught me a lot of things,” Maxey told reporters. The debate over how Harden will fit with his new team has been an ongoing one, and it’s bound to draw no shortage of attention.
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NBA
Tom Brady posts ‘real’ photo with Victor Wembanyama
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