January 3rd Marcel Desjardin shocked the CFL world by making a trade with the Calgary Stampeders. Ottawa sent a 2020 3rd pick plus a conditional pick (swap of 2020 1st round picks) to the Calgary Stampeders for pending UFA Quarterback Nick Arbuckle.
26 year old Nick Arbuckle is coming off a season where he replaced Franchise quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell for 7 games, leading the team to a 4-3 record while throwing for 2,103 yard, 11 touchdown vs 5 interceptions.
Just under a month since the trade, and only about two weeks left until Free Agency opens on February 11 the Quarterback Free Agency pool for QB needy teams is drying up fast. CFL has seen 1 quarterback who was set to hit the open market plus a quarterback who restructured his deal and got an extension. Add in Fajardo being off the market since October, Arbuckles eyes must be lighting up right now.
27 Year Old Cody Fajardo re-signed with Saskatchewan Roughriders in October on a 2-year deal worth $856,000 hard money. At the Time of his signing, Fajardo was leading the Saskatchewan Roughriders to a West Division lead and ended up hosting the West Division Final losing to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Fajardo hard money is $412,000 in 2020 and $444,000 in 2021
Fast forward to January, Winnipeg has made their Choice when signing the guy helped lead and win them a Grey Cup in 2019 giving 31 year old Zach Collaros a 2-year deal worth $890,000 hard money. Winnipeg is betting being able to keep Collaros healthy and on the field for all of the 2020 season. Collaros hard money is $440,000 in 2020 and $450,000 in 2021 plus bonuses in both seasons.
Montreal has brought some stability to their Quarterback position for the first time since Anthony Calvillo retired in 2013 in signing Adams Jr. The Alouettes decided to reward the most travelled Quarterbacks in the CFL with a 3-year deal worth $1,317,000. Adams Jr hard money in 2020 is $435,000 with it going up to $445,000 in 2021 and $460,000 in 2022.
Arbuckle who came for a visit in ottawa last weekend, should be looking at between $450,000 to $500,000 in 2020 with increases of minimum $20,000 a year in hard money from the Redblacks with any additional $30,000 to $40,000 in bonuses a year. My Contract expectation break down below
2020 Hard Money – $475,000
2020 Bonuses – $25,000
2020 Total Potential – $500,000
2021 Hard Money – $500,000
2021 Bonuses – $50,000
2021 Total Potential – $550,00
2022 Hard Money – $550,000
2022 Bonuses – $75,000
2022 Total Potential – $625,000
The cap should be increasing, bonuses should go up due to consecutive year hitting them i.e. All Star, passing leader, wins, touchdowns. In this league, you’re going to have to pay your Quarterbacks. It will be interesting to see what Desjardin and Co do between now and February 11.
As always, Thank you for reading. Catch me on twitter at shane_ryan97 for more Redblacks news. #RNation
613 Sports 
Well I think it is too much money, but we may have no choice. Nicolls just got released, heading to Toronto for a meeting tomorrow.
Where will the shoe drop?
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There was no MOP talk around Arbuckle, unlike others on this list. Plus, seven games as a starter aren’t enough to put him in the same pay bracket as these QBs, either. He and his agent may think he’s worth half a mil, but he has a lot more to prove before he will get that paycheque.
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Marcel Desjardin shocked the CFL world by being a dumb%$#$% and blowing away a winning team. My thoughts on MD, get lost bum!!!
He will never pull in anything but another crappy hasbeen QB. After another crappy year that while being better then last year, will still be c4appy, he will get his walking papers 3/4 through this 2020 season. Get lost bum.
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