Report: Redblacks negotiations with quarterback Nick Arbuckle ‘getting serious’

The Ottawa Redblacks appear focused on signing quarterback Nick Arbuckle.

#RedBlacks will not be bringing in Matt Nichols for at least the next few days, suggesting that negotiations with Nick Arbuckle are getting serious. A deal has not been agreed to yet, but the team wants to let that process play out before moving onto Nichols. @CFLonTSN #Argos

— Farhan Lalji (@FarhanLaljiTSN) January 30, 2020

The Toronto Argos brought Nichols to The Six for a look-see on Wednesday. That was after the Winnipeg Blue Bombers released Nichols on Tuesday.

Meanwhile Arbuckle is seeking a substantial pay raise. He wants north of $400,000 on his new contract, according to 3DownNation insider Justin Dunk.

Ottawa traded for the rights to Arbuckle, a pending free agent. If the Redblacks are able to sign Arbuckle to a new contract, Calgary will receive the first overall pick in the 2020 CFL draft. He’s currently scheduled to hit the open market.

While Bo Levi Mitchell was out of the lineup due to a pectoral injury, Arbuckle posted a 4-3 record as the starting QB for the Calgary Stampeders last season. He completed 174-of-238 passes (73 percent) for 2,103 yards with 11 touchdowns against five interceptions and ran 27 times for 76 yards and four majors.

Arbuckle visited Ottawa for the weekend and left on Tuesday, January 22. The Redblacks put on a recruiting pitch to get his signature on the dotted line prior to their exclusive negotiating time expiring in February.