Jacksonville Jaguars acquired Joshua Dobbs from Pittsburgh in…
Jacksonville Jaguars acquired Joshua Dobbs from Pittsburgh in 2019 for a 2020 fifth-round pick. Dobbs did not appear in a regular-season game for Jacksonville before returning to the Steelers the following year, so the Jaguars gained almost no direct on-field value. Giving up useful fifth-round capital for a backup quarterback who never played leaves Jacksonville with a D+.
Jacksonville Jaguars Received
- player Joshua Dobbs
Pittsburgh Steelers Received
- pick 2020 5th round pick (154th overall subsequently traded, Jason Strowbridge )
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Pittsburgh traded Joshua Dobbs to Jacksonville in September 2019 for a 2020 fifth-round draft choice. The pick became No. 154 and later formed part of the Steelers' broader compensation in the Minkah Fitzpatrick transaction. Dobbs, meanwhile, did not appear in a regular-season game for Jacksonville and returned to Pittsburgh the following year. The two clubs therefore realized very different levels of value from the exchange.
Jacksonville Jaguars Return
Jacksonville acquired quarterback depth at a time when teams often value insurance more than future late-round capital. That logic was understandable, but the actual return was minimal. Dobbs did not take a regular-season snap for the Jaguars, so the club never received meaningful game value from the player it acquired. A D+ leaves room for the short-term depth purpose while recognizing that the football payoff never materialized.
Pittsburgh Steelers Return
Pittsburgh turned a backup quarterback into a fifth-round asset without losing a player who was essential to its offense. The choice was not ultimately used by the Steelers at No. 154, but that does not erase its value. Pittsburgh later included the selection in the compensation connected to acquiring Minkah Fitzpatrick, allowing the club to deploy the draft capital in a much larger roster decision.
Value in Hindsight
The strongest contrast is between an unused Jacksonville rental and a fungible draft asset that Pittsburgh was able to redeploy. Draft picks retain strategic value even when the original team does not make the selection, and this fifth-rounder became part of a transaction with major consequences for the Steelers. Jacksonville, by comparison, did not get regular-season production from Dobbs during his stay.
Final Verdict
Pittsburgh Steelers Win should replace the prior Jacksonville-leaning result. Pittsburgh earns a B for extracting useful draft capital from surplus quarterback depth and later putting that capital to work. Jacksonville receives a D+ because Dobbs never provided regular-season value for the Jaguars. The trade was not enormous, but its realized benefits clearly favored Pittsburgh.