The Montreal Alouettes have acquired the first overall pick in the 2022 CFL Draft from the Edmonton Elks.
Montreal Gazette reporter Herb Zurkowsky has the latest: Hearing AlsMTL have something cooking with Edmonton for first overall draft choice tonight – meaning Syracuse LB Tyrell Richards will be playing in Montreal this season.
Richards played three seasons at Syracuse, recording 55 tackles, nine tackles for loss, six sacks, two knockdowns, two fumble recoveries and one interception over 23 games with the Orange. He left the football program under mysterious circumstances ahead of the 2021 season and declined to reveal the details as to why.
The six-foot-four, 232-pound defender is extremely versatile, taking reps as a defensive lineman, linebacker, defensive back and on special teams at the CFL Combine. He also tested very well in the speed and quickness events, running a 4.60-second forty-yard dash, 7.01-second three-cone drill, and 4.25-second shuttle.
General manager Danny Maciocia sends the fourth overall choice and rights to Canadian offensive lineman Carter O’Donnell to the green and gold in exchange for the No. 1. He was selected in the third round, 22nd overall during the 2020 CFL Draft. He would have been a sure-fire first-round selection had he not received such high interest from the NFL.
O’Donnell has spent the last two NFL seasons with the Indianapolis Colts on the team’s practice roster after signing as an undrafted free agent in 2020. He was named a first-team U Sports All-Canadian for his efforts in anchoring the University of Alberta offensive line. Scouts noticed his talent on film and it earned him an invite to the prestigious East-West Shrine Game.
Elks general manager and head coach Chris Jones currently holds the fourth and eighth overall selections in the 2022 CFL Draft.
