Who is the Patriots' backup quarterback? New England's 2026 QB depth chart behind Drake Maye originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The New England Patriots are marching into the playoffs with a confidence few observers saw coming, sparking the inevitable, yet once-unthinkable, comparisons to the start of the Tom Brady-Bill Belichick dynasty.
That familiar, cold-blooded efficiency and dominance have returned to Foxborough, and the reason is the transcendent play of their young signal-caller, Drake Maye. In just his second season, Maye has delivered a campaign so spectacular it has shattered franchise records and placed him squarely in the NFL MVP discussion. He finished the 2025 season having thrown for 4,394 yards, compiling 31 touchdowns against just eight interceptions, and led the league with a remarkable 72.0% completion rate and a 113.5 passer rating, establishing New England as one of the NFL's elite offensive forces.
The Patriots finished the 2025 season 14-3, tied for the best record in the NFL, and are now prepping for a deep postseason run in their first appearance since 2021. First up is another star signal-caller Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday night in Foxboro.
The sheer volume of Maye’s success has meant that the critical conversations which once dominated Foxborough — namely, who would step up if the franchise quarterback went down — have been largely relegated to the margins. Yet, the truth remains: a deep playoff run relies on more than just one star, and the security provided by the names behind Maye on the depth chart is a factor every contender must possess.
Here's the entire Patriots quarterback depth chart.
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Who is the Patriots backup quarterback?
New England's primary backup is Josh Dobbs. On his sixth NFL team, Dobbs has appeared in four games this season, most of the action coming when New England was blowing out opponents and took out Maye. He has completed seven of 10 passes for 65 yards.
Dobbs was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft after playing college football at the University of Tennessee, where he excelled academically in aerospace engineering. His early career was spent primarily as a backup and practice squad member for the Steelers.
Dobbs's career is marked by his status as an NFL journeyman, having been a member of nine different NFL teams through the 2025 season. His most notable stint came in the 2023 season, where he started games for the Arizona Cardinals and the Minnesota Vikings in rapid succession; he played in 13 games that season, totalling 2,464 yards and 13 touchdowns to go along with 10 interceptions.
WE ARE WATCHING THE LEGEND OF JOSH DOBBS BEFORE OUR VERY EYES
— JPA (@jasrifootball) November 12, 2023
THE PASSTRONAUT CAN RUN TOO
pic.twitter.com/9EARbGAfO4
He signed with the New England Patriots in 2025 to serve as the veteran backup to Maye. As of the end of the 2025 season, Dobbs had played in 27 career games, accumulating 3,346 passing yards, 17 touchdowns, and 8 rushing touchdowns throughout his nomadic but durable career.
MORE: Will Matthew Stafford or Drake Maye win NFL MVP?
Patriots QB depth chart
| Position | Player |
| 1 | Drake Maye |
| 2 | Josh Dobbs |
| 3 | Tommy DeVito |
Behind Maye and Dobbs on the Patriots depth chart is Tommy DeVito, who is known for his time on the New York Giants. He initially landed on the practice squad but was thrust into the starting lineup midway through his rookie season due to injuries to Daniel Jones and Tyrod Taylor. He went on to lead the Giants to three consecutive wins, becoming a surprising national story and a fan favorite, especially known for his nickname "Tommy Cutlets" and his Italian-American charm.
In two seasons with the Giants (2023-2024), DeVito played in 12 games with eight starts, compiling 1,358 passing yards and 8 touchdowns with a 65.3% completion rate. His impressive, albeit short, run as a starter in 2023 included leading the Giants to a road victory against his current team Patriots.
DeVito was waived by the Giants before the 2025 season and was quickly claimed by the Patriots, where he currently serves as the team's third-string quarterback behind Maye and Dobbs. He has primarily been on the practice squad throughout the regular season.
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