Should the Detroit Lions trade for a backup quarterback?

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SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 01: Joshua Dobbs #9 of the Arizona Cardinals passes the ball during the third quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on October 01, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images

To the surprise of many, quarterback Teddy Bridgewater stepped away from professional football, leaving the Detroit Lions in need of further depth. They filled that vacancy with haste, signing veteran Joshua Dobbs mere hours after Bridgewater’s departure was announced. While the quarterback room has returned to three-players deep, is that deep enough?

Jared Goff is the starter and key cog of the franchise. Now that Dobbs enters the fold, the backup quarterback position becomes a true battle between him and undrafted rookie Luke Altmyer. Altmyer was signed by the Lions after the 2026 NFL Draft, meaning he has an extra few months of familiarity with the Lions, but Dobbs’ familiarity with the NFL could give him the edge down the road.

Neither Dobbs nor Altmyer are among the elite backups in the league—after all, there is a reason why Dobbs remained unsigned and Altmyer went undrafted. If something were to happen to Goff atop the depth chart, are the Lions really comfortable with either of these players stepping into the lineup?

Today’s Question of the Day is:

Should the Detroit Lions trade for a backup quarterback?​

My answer: No.

When news of Bridgewater’s retirement was first revealed, there were two thoughts at the forefront of my mind. Firstly, this was an excellent opportunity for Altmyer to stake a claim at a roster spot, regardless of whom else the Lions sign. The second is that Goff is so integral to this offense that almost no available quarterback can replace his production—what really matters is finding a quarterback that can lend a hand in the film room.

With Dobbs in the fold, I think that the Lions have all they need in their quarterback room. Dobbs checks a lot of boxes for the Lions.

He has familiarity with Drew Petzing from their time in Arizona, including eight starts. Although the Arizona Cardinals went 1-7 in those games started by Dobbs, it is worth remembering that their roster was subpar at best, a supporting cast including James Conner, Trey McBride (before his ascension to elite tight end), Marquise Brown, and a rookie Michael Wilson. Dobbs himself was not awful in those games either, throwing for eight touchdowns, five interceptions, and 1,569 yards across those eight games, as well as scrambling for 258 yards and three touchdowns. When you examine the other free agent quarterbacks still available on the market, only players like Jimmy Garoppolo, Russell Wilson, and Trevor Siemian have more starts than Dobbs.

When you factor in Dobbs’ intangibles (he is known as “the Passtronaut” for a reason), he is about as good of a backup as you can sign in the middle of August—experienced, athletic, smart, and, best of all, inexpensive. Via trade, you might be able to get an upgrade, but not without a larger price tag. Looking around at NFL rosters, there is a bevy of veteran backups with starting experience, such as Marcus Mariota, Carson Wentz, or Andy Dalton. However, are any of these players such an upgrade over Dobbs to warrant trading away assets? I personally do not think so.

You can also consider former draft picks that have fallen out of favor. Players like Will Levis, Spencer Rattler, and Anthony Richardson are no longer viewed favorably for their respective teams, so a change of scenery would make sense. Yet these players have fallen down the depth chart for a reason—would it truly benefit Detroit to take on a reclamation project at an important position during a pivotal season? If Goff gets hurt, I personally would not want a player like Levis or Richardson stepping in. For as high as their ceilings are, I want a backup to have a safe floor.

With Dobbs and Altmyer on the roster, I think the Lions are in a decent position. At the end of the day, Goff is irreplaceable to this team, and any injury replacement would be treading water at best—good quarterbacks are hard to find in this league. Preseason has not yet started. Let us give Dobbs and Altmyer some time to show if reinforcements are truly needed.

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