One team’s benched quarterback is another team’s starter.
The Vikings acquired Josh Dobbs from the Cardinals ahead of Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline to fill their quarterback void following Kirk Cousins’ season-ending Achilles injury.
Minnesota sent the Cardinals a sixth-round pick for the quarterback plus a conditional seventh-round pick, according to the team’s website.
ESPN reported the conditional pick is based on Dobbs’ playing time and could become a sixth-round selection.
The Cardinals had just benched Dobbs for either fifth-round rookie Clayton Tune or the potentially returning Kyler Murray.
Minnesota (4-4) found itself in a tough spot due to Cousins’ injury suffered Sunday in Green Bay.
The Vikings have been keeping an eye on the future while attempting to still contend after winning the NFC North last season.
Without Cousins, the team’s ceiling is compromised and selling some of their veteran pieces, such as pass rusher Danielle Hunter, would have made sense.
The other option was to acquire a starting-caliber quarterback and push for a playoff spot considering Minnesota has won three straight games and the NFC lacks playoff contenders.
Dobbs fits the criteria of a starting-caliber quarterback, although he’s in the lower tier. Other rumored targets included Saints backup Jameis Winston.
The 28-year-old Dobbs performed admirably for the Cardinals while filling in for Murray, throwing for 1,569 yards, eight touchdowns and five interceptions in eight games.
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He kept the Cardinals competitive despite a bottom-tier roster, and even upset the Cowboys.
Dobbs also provides a mobility option that Cousins did not, rushing for 258 yards and three touchdowns. He’s cleared 25 rushing yards in six of eight starts.
The 1-7 Cardinals, though, decided to move on and could start Tune while they wait for Murray’s return from ACL surgery.
Minnesota turned to fifth-round pick Jaren Hall following Cousins’ injury, and he may start Sunday’s road matchup against the Falcons since Dobbs will only have limited time to prepare.