Trevor Harris signs with the Redblacks: QB controversy, or smart long-term plan?

Dion Phaneuf and the other ex-Leafs traded Tuesday won't be the only Toronto athletes looking for homes in Ottawa soon, as Argonauts' quarterback Trevor Harris reportedly signed a two-year deal with the Redblacks in CFL free agency Tuesday. That's an interesting move, as Harris was largely a starter with Toronto (although Ricky Ray was tabbed over him late in the year) and Ottawa has the league's reigning Most Outstanding Player at quarterback already in Henry Burris; we have seen Burris pushed out by a younger former Argos' quarterback before, so there is a possibility that's what the Redblacks are doing here. However, TSN's Matthew Scianitti reports that the second year of Harris' contract is a larger $400,000, so it may be that Ottawa plans to have Harris as a backup this year, expects Burris to retire after the season, and wants to go with Harris after that. (Update: comments from both Redblacks' GM Marcel Desjardins and Harris himself make it look like this is the plan.) That's a complicated plan that could go wrong, especially when it comes to keeping both players happy, but if it pans out, it might leave the Redblacks in good shape.

From this corner, Burris should absolutely be Ottawa's starter in 2016. Yes, he'll be 41 in June, but he was phenomenal last year, putting up some of the best numbers of his career. He was a deserving choice as MOP, leading the league with 5,703 passing yards while posting a 70.9 per cent completion rate and tying for second with 26 touchdowns while only tossing 13 interceptions. It's awfully hard to push out a guy who's playing that well, and if this deal is designed to do that, that seems problematic.

However, if this is a longer succession plan, it might pay off. Harris was very good in 2015 too, throwing for 4,354 yards and a league-high 33 touchdowns (albeit with 19 interceptions), plus completing an impressive 71 per cent of his passes. At first glimpse, that might make it seem curious that he would take a backup job, but there weren't really any teams clearly looking for a starter this offseason, and the Argonauts still had Ricky Ray around, so staying there may have been a competition as well. It's worth pointing out that despite Harris' strong season-long numbers, his play trailed off towards the end of the year and the Argos started Ray over him in their playoff game.That doesn't make him an obvious upgrade at starter for anyone (except maybe Montreal), and this may be the best offer he received.

If Harris is willing to serve as a backup, he gives Ottawa one of the best backups out there, and someone who very easily could be a long-term starter for them beginning in 2017. (It's notable that Burris' contract expires after this season.) He might even get the starting job before then if Burris' play falls off or if he gets injured; there have been a ton of quarterback injuries in this league recently. So, this deal could work out for him as well.

We'll see where things go from here, but this isn't necessarily a move that has to push Burris out. If that's the intention, and if that's what winds up happening, it could be a mistake by the Redblacks. If the idea is to have a solid backup who can step in if Burris gets hurt or trails off, though, and someone who can perhaps be a good long-term starter once Burris is gone, this might work out well. Having two good quarterbacks requires plenty of ego management and carries its own challenges, but it's better than having none.