Argos acquire quarterback Franklin from Eskimos for offensive lineman Woods
TORONTO — The Toronto Argonauts have acquired quarterback James Franklin and a third-round selection in the 2018 Canadian Football League draft from the Edmonton Eskimos in exchange for Canadian offensive lineman Mason Woods.
Franklin has made 12 appearances over three seasons in Edmonton, completing 116-of-176 pass attempts for 1,449 yards, 12 touchdowns and one interception while rushing for 145 yards and one touchdown on 18 carries.
Woods, from Maple Ridge, B.C., was selected by the Toronto Argonauts in the first round (10th overall) of the 2017 CFL draft. Woods attended University of Idaho from 2013 to ’16 where he appeared in 34 games.
Franklin, who becomes a free agent in mid-February, backed up the Eskimos’ Mike Reilly, the CFL’s most outstanding player in ’17, and has said that he wants a starting role.
The Argonauts already have future Hall of Famer Ricky Ray at quarterback but, after Toronto was the upset winner of the Grey Cup over Calgary, there was immediate speculation the veteran would retire. He hasn’t indicated his plans for the future and Toronto general manager Jim Popp told Dave Naylor of TSN 1050 in Toronto on Monday the trade does not mean Ray has indicated to the Argos he is ending his career, or that he’s even leaning that way.
The Argos were also thought to be interested in getting Zach Collaros back from the Hamilton TigerCats. He was a backup in Toronto for two years, starting eight games when Ray was injured, and lost his starter’s job in Hamilton to Jeremiah Masoli after June Jones took over as head coach in late August. Collaros has one more year remaining on his contract.