49ers sign former NASA intern and Viking Josh Dobbs to 1-year deal

There is a backup quarterback competition afoot in Santa Clara. According to NFL agent Mike McCartney, the 49ers have signed Josh Dobbs. He will compete for their No. 2 QB role against Brandon Allen.

The contract, per both ESPN's Adam Schefter and NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, is a one-year deal with $2.25 million in fully-guaranteed money, and $750,000 in playtime incentives.

His rival in the competition, Allen, is on a one-year, $1.54 million deal with $400,000 guaranteed. The 49ers could very well keep both players, who are making more than Brock Purdy's $1,004,253 this season.

Dobbs is a very interesting backup quarterback candidate.

Aside from spending time with the Browns, Titans, Cardinals and Vikings, Dobbs is accomplished off the field. He graduated from the University of Tennessee with a degree in aerospace engineering and interned at NASA's Kennedy Center in Florida in both 2020 and 2021. He is not a literal rocket scientist yet, but there is a clear path for him to pursue that path after his playing career.

As for that playing career, he is more of a scrambler, with high-upside athleticism , but issues with turnovers and pocket-passing consistency.

He's struggled to find solid footing in his career, and even fell out of favor with the Vikings after being acquired from the Cardinals for a 2024 sixth-round pick.

He started hot, winning his first two games, including a short-week start after being acquired on a Tuesday.

But the Vikings lost their next two, both in ugly games, and Dobbs was demoted in favor of Jarren Hall and Nick Mullens.

The demotion came after a 21-20 loss to the Denver Broncos, then a 4-INT performance in a 12-10 loss to the lowly Chicago Bears. In what was heading for a loss, as Dobbs was 10-of-23 for 63 yards, he found himself relieved for Mullens, who led the Vikings to a win. He was made inactive for three-straight games.

One thing Dobbs will have going for him in Santa Clara is the support of former Tennessee teammate Jauan Jennings, who connected on this iconic, Hail Mary game-winner against the Georgia Bulldogs in 2017.