The Montreal Alouettes focused on improving the team’s backup quarterback spot for the 2026 CFL season in a meticulous way.
General manager Danny Maciocia, head coach Jason Maas and offensive coordinator Anthony Calvillo led the offseason evaluation process. The Als wanted to ensure the team’s new backup QB had a “fair amount” of CFL experience, someone who had won games as a starter and fit Montreal’s offensive identity.
“We had a list of two or three guys that we were looking at. We had about a couple months of work that we went back and watched, I know I did for about the last two years, and then studied them in detail. We put in the work leading up to free agency,” Maciocia said.
“We had some dialog within our organization with our scouting department and our coaches. We came to the conclusion that the list of three guys that we had, [Dustin Crum] was at the top of the list, and this is the guy that we were going to make a run at. I don’t have to tell you the importance of having a number two guy because number two can be number one real quick.”
Crum was the target the Alouettes locked in on when the communication window opened and Maciocia was able to get his signature on a one-year contract. The six-foot, 210-pound QB received a $50,000 signing bonus and will earn $140,000 in hard money. He has an additional $54,000 available in playtime cash, $3,000 per game for playing more than half the offensive snaps.
“Wally Buono keeps talking to me about you need to have a 1B or a number two around that’s going to win you two or three games. That’s been the case with us the last few years, and it’s probably been the case with a few other teams in the CFL. When we were able to land him, we felt pretty good about having a viable option if ever called upon,’ Maciocia said.
Montreal’s 1A or number one quarterback is Davis Alexander. He’s an ascending young starter who led the Alouettes to a Grey Cup appearance in 2025. However, he missed 11 regular season games due to a hamstring injury. That’s why the Als wanted Crum, who has 20 CFL starts on his resume, as an insurance policy and also has some similar traits to Alexander.
“The one thing that stands out to me with Dustin is toughness. He has the ability to stand in the pocket, absorb things, move around a little bit — he is tough, mentally and physically. Winning on the road, he’s been able to do that, which goes to your toughness. I do like the way he throws, I know he’s gotten better and better as I’ve watched him play in the league,” Maas said.
“The experience factor, we’re talking about having a guy behind Davis, we need a guy that can go in there and win a game on the road, if need be, win a game in a tough situation, stand in the pocket, be tough, run the ball if need be. Dustin will compete on every single play, he competes on every single play, doesn’t give up on anything and that is very much like Davis Alexander.”
Maas, a former CFL quarterback himself, believes toughness and competitiveness are two attributes needed to succeed at the quarterback position. Crum displayed both during his three years with the Ottawa Redblacks, which included at least three starts against Montreal since 2023.
