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This article was published 29/1/2015 (2060 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Opinion

PHOENIX - The quick take on the Bombers trading Cory Watson is Kyle Walters has moved a talented but oft-injured asset for development pieces.

Watson is the most polished and accomplished piece in the deal but he couldn’t stay on the field during his time in Winnipeg. For the Bombers, it was quite evident it was time to move on.

JOE BRYKSA / FREE PRESS FILES Staying healthy and getting on the field has increasingly been an issue for Cory Watson, and he missed 13 starts as well as parts of many more games during his five-year stretch with the Bombers.

The 30-year-old Watson is both tough and talented. When healthy, he’s capable of being a ratio breaker. A Canadian receiver who can lead his team. But staying healthy and getting on the field has increasingly been an issue and he missed 13 starts as well as parts of many more games during his five-year stretch with the Bombers.

The Bombers sent Watson and the 26th pick in this year’s CFL draft to the Roughriders in exchange for the 15th pick, Canadian wide receiver Kris Bastien and the rights to a player on Saskatchewan’s negotiation list.

Bastien, 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds, spent last season on Saskatchewan’s practice roster. He recorded 37 receptions for 592 yards and six touchdowns in eight games with Concordia during the 2013 university season.

The book on Bastien is he’s a big young receiver still in the developmental stage.

Watson joined the Bombers in 2010 and played in 67 games totalling 178 receptions for 2,217 yards and six touchdowns.

The 2011 season saw Watson catch 69 balls for 793 yards and appeared headed for stardom. But injury limited him and he never caught more than 40 passes in a season again and last year he had just 21 receptions for 287 yards.

Maybe Watson stays healthy and puts up big numbers in Regina this summer. But for Walters it was time to move. Winnipeg improves it’s draft position and gets a young receiver who will immediately help on special teams while potentially developing into a Canadian starter.

Watson had become a permanent question mark in Winnipeg and now Walters has traded one gamble for another.

Winnipeg got younger and healthier while moving up in the draft. The Riders got a player that when right, is capable of great things.

If Watson can play and stay on the field, the Riders will immediately have the best player in the deal. If he can’t, the Bombers will have gotten something for nothing even if it’s only potential today.

gary.lawless@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @garylawless