The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have picked up quarterback Matt Nichols from Edmonton in a sudden and surprising trade deal. Edmonton got a conditional 7th-round pick in the 2017 CFL Draft – not an impressive compensation for the sometimes-capable quarterback.
With Drew Willy injured, and Brian Brohm and Robert Marve failing to impress as backups, the Blue Bombers were in desperate need of some quarterback help in the second half of the CFL season.
The press release from the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the CFL follows.
Winnipeg Blue Bombers Acquire Quarterback Matt Nichols in Trade
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers announce today the club has acquired six-year CFL veteran quarterback Matt Nichols from the Edmonton Eskimos, in exchange for a conditional 7th round pick in the 2017 CFL Draft.
Nichols (6-2, 215, Eastern Washington, March 19, 1987, in Redding, CA) has spent his entire career with the Eskimos, starting 12 games, with a 5-7 record. Through his CFL career, Nichols has completed 270-of-443 pass attempts, for 3,386 yards and 19 touchdown passes. Nichols has also rushed for 138 yards and three touchdowns.
“Matt is a player with significant experience in this league. He has proven to be a solidified quarterback, and will come in and add immediate depth to this position on our roster,” said Blue Bombers General Manager Kyle Walters.
Through nine games in 2015, he’s completed 128-of-209 passes for 1,488 yards with eight touchdowns, going 5-2 as the starter.
Main Photo Credit: REGINA, SK – NOVEMBER 08: Matt Nichols #16 of the Edmonton Eskimos looks to throw a pass in a game between the Edmonton Eskimos and Saskatchewan Roughriders in week 20 of the 2014 CFL season at Mosaic Stadium on November 08, 2014 in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. (Photo by Brent Just/Getty Images)
