Elks delusion aside, that is a good question. What is the best trade for each franchise? Bombers first - a top 5 come to mind:
5. Matt Nichols for a 7th round conditional pick - team was a dumpster fire and he brought them back to contender status and ultimately a Grey Cup (albeit with him injured). And given the price this was an absolute steal. One of the two big trades (Pat Neufeld for Alex Hall being the other) that transformed the club.
4. Khari Jones, Moe Eliwonibi, and a draft pick for Chris Perez and a draft pick (two simultaneous trades) - Jones was the thrown-in part of the deal. An MOP, single season franchise records, 2001 Grey Cup appearance and the best QB-receiver combo in history with Stegall. Re-built the team from the depths of the Reinbold era (IMO the worst the franchise has ever been). Had he lasted longer than 4.5 years and won a Cup this would rank higher.
3. Tom Clements for Dieter Brock - a king’s ransom to get him, but Brock was not going to play here so this was a “how do we salvage something” move, and was pretty amazing considering the quality of QB we got back given our hand was forced. And then it turns out we got the better QB going forward. And an MOP award, and a Grey Cup.
2. Doug Brown - a first and third round pick for rights to a guy who might never have signed was a bit pricy if it didn’t pan out, but because it did this is a massive steal of a trade for one of the greatest Canadian defensive players ever. The backbone of the team for a decade.
1. Zach Collaros for a second round pick (turned into a first when he re-signed). Two Grey Cups (and front runners for a third), an MOP award (and front runner for a second), 29-3 in meaningful games since he got here. Yeah, I’d say this is the biggest steal in Bomber history.