REPORT: WHAT ALS HAVE DONE EARLY IN CFL DRAFTS UNDER DANNY MACIOCIA
The Montreal Alouettes will choose last in the first round of the upcoming draft on Tuesday, April 30th, as a result of their Grey Cup victory last season.
Danny Maciocia has overseen four previous drafts as general manager since assuming the role in 2020, managing to navigate challenges such as not having top picks in 2020 and 2021. Building a strong Canadian talent pool has been pivotal to their success, exemplified by players like Kaion Julien-Grant and Jeshrun Antwi, drafted in 2019.
However, focusing on Maciocia’s tenure, his influence extends beyond draft day, with Pier-Yves Lavergne, previously the director of national scouting and now assistant general manager, leading the draft efforts.
Byron Archambault, Eric Deslauriers, and Jean-Marc Edme from the front office have also played significant roles in the Alouettes’ drafting achievements. Now, let’s delve into the Alouettes’ first-round selections since 2020.
2020:
The Alouettes missed out on a first-round pick in 2020, but they capitalized with two second-round choices. At the 14th spot, they nabbed Marc-Antoine Dequoy, who has swiftly risen to prominence as the CFL’s premier safety. His standout performance, including a pivotal interception returned for a touchdown in the East Final against the Toronto Argonauts, cemented his status as a CFL All-Star in 2023. Undoubtedly, this selection proved to be a major win for the team.
At the 16th pick, the Als opted for defensive tackle Cameron Lawson, who later became part of a trade with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, yielding another first-round pick in 2022 for the Alouettes. This subsequent pick led to the acquisition of receiver Tyson Philpot. Despite Lawson’s departure, his contribution and the subsequent trade for Philpot reflect another successful move by the Alouettes.
2021:
Similar to the situation in 2020, the Alouettes found themselves without a first-round pick in 2021. However, they managed to adapt once more. Opting for the first pick of the second round, the Als chose Pier-Olivier Lestage, an offensive lineman from the University of Montreal. Following his time with the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks, Lestage joined Montreal in 2022 and promptly assumed a starting role at guard. His performance has since catapulted him into recognition as one of the premier players in his position across the league.
2022:
The Alouettes not only possessed one first-round pick in 2022 but also secured two. Maciocia orchestrated a trade to move up from the fourth to the first spot, ultimately selecting Tyrell Richards, a linebacker from Syracuse. Despite encountering injury setbacks, the 25-year-old has demonstrated significant potential. He’s already making an impact on special teams and could swiftly ascend to defensive stardom, possibly even in the upcoming season.
In addition to their initial first-round selection, the Als opted for Tyson Philpot as their second first-rounder, picking him ninth overall. Philpot’s notable achievements include securing the game-winning reception in the Grey Cup and consistently displaying an ability for making big plays. In hindsight, Philpot’s draft stock would likely have risen substantially if the draft were to be conducted anew.
2023:
For the second consecutive year, the Als had the fortune of securing two picks in the initial round. They obtained an additional first-round pick from the B.C. Lions by trading quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. With their original pick, they chose linebacker Jonathan Sutherland, who remained with the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks throughout the season.
Their second pick went to Lwal Uguak, who emerged as a starting defensive end for the Alouettes during the latter part of the season. Uguak’s performance was exceptional, leading to his signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the offseason.