So, Which NFL Team Is Going to Fall in Love With Joshua Dobbs?

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Alright, ladies and gentlemen. The 2017 NFL Draft kicks off with the first round tonight live in Philadelphia. If you don’t already, ‘like’ us on Facebook. Poppa Bear and myself will be going live at some point during the first round on FB Live – gonna break down the picks and provide some Titans-specific analysis (we are Nashville-based, after all). But, none of that is the reason I’m writing this piece. We have a bet to place.

Nope – I’m taking a look at the fascinating case of former University of Tennessee quarterback Joshua Dobbs.

Sure, after the conclusion of the 2016 season, Dobbs announced he’d be entering the NFL draft process, and nobody really thought much of it. Great kid, hell of a teammate, and has a lot of the intangibles that teams fall in love with. So, it should be of no shock to anyone that Dobbs’ stock is soaring.

Originally, it looked like he was going to be lucky to even get drafted. He was a consensus late-round projection, but throughout the process, teams have caught on that this kid is different. Now, they’re willing to overlook his shortcomings as a passer. I guess those things can be coached, huh?

But, the hype reached a fever pitch a week or so ago (this is The SoBros Network – the only actual research we do is in our own memory). ESPN’s Todd McShay (does he still have a job? I can’t keep up) said that he wouldn’t be surprised is someone took a chance on Dobbs in the second round. THE SECOND ROUND!

Accuracy, placement, footwork, throwing motion – all of these are enormous criticisms of Dobbs, and rightfully so. Those are fundamental skills you need to be a successful quarterback, especially in the NFL. Dobbs never truly lived up to his potential in Knoxville.

But, and there’s a big ‘but,’ – he’s a sharp kid that can make a lot of damn plays with his legs outside the pocket.

He’s a “developmental project” at this point. And, you get starters in the first 2-3 rounds. No one is spending that high of a pick on a quarterback unless they think there is a chance he can start in the NFL. Wow. Joshua Dobbs?

So, here we are, SoBros faithful – which team has fallen in love with Dobbs and chosen to over-draft him?

I’m thinking of teams that don’t need a quarterback right away. Now, that can be because there’s an established, aging veteran close to retirement on the roster. Or, it can be because there’s a young guy in place who may not pan out. Either way, the best fit for Dobbs is somewhere where we won’t have to play immediately, but will get the opportunity to play at some point.

Buffalo Bills – The Bills are the best option for Dobbs. They have an offense that’s already being run by a quarterback with skills similar to Dobbs’ in Tyrod Taylor. That said, it doesn’t sound like the Bills believe Taylor is the future. He could get a chance to compete right away, and perhaps start by 2018.

Washington Redskins – Like the Bills, the Redskins aren’t ready to commit long-term to their quarterback. Dobbs would have a chance to play as soon as 2018 and would have an explosive offense to work with.

Arizona Cardinals – Bruce Arians is a creative genius and Carson Palmer is old as hell. That’s a good mix of fit and opportunity for Dobbs. He’d get a chance to play in a season or two, and Arians is just the guy to cook up an offense tailored to Dobbs’ strengths.

Los Angeles Chargers – Philip Rivers is in the twilight of his career. I expect the Chargers will draft a quarterback in the middle-late rounds this week. If they don’t want to spend a high pick (considering they have needs across the board), why not take a chance on Dobbs?

Tennessee Titans – I’m including the home town Titans here because a lot of readers have suggested taking the guy late in the draft. Surprisingly, I’m not completely opposed to this idea. Marcus Mariota is an injury risk, and Dobbs has a similar skill set, albeit inferior to Mariota’s. He could get a chance to fill in and play nicely in the Titans run-heavy offense.

With his intelligence and athletic ability, there’s no reason Dobbs can’t have a solid, 8-year career as a backup in the NFL. But, it’s unfair and unrealistic to call him the next Dak Prescott or Marcus Mariota. That’s undue pressure.

What do y’all think? Where does Dobbs end up and does he ever start in the NFL?

Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. A strong advocate of GSD (get shit done) and #BeBetter, he’s down to talk Tennessee Titans and Alabama Crimson Tide football over a beer any day. Check him out covering the WWE for WrestlingNews.co. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley@WrestlingNewsCo

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