Armed with a first-round pick, Als GM Maciocia primed for CFL draft

Unless the pick is traded, Montreal will select fourth overall, the first time since 2018 the team will have a selection in the first round.

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May 02, 2022 • 19 minutes ago • 3 minute read • Join the conversation

“Only fools don’t change their mind” when it comes to the CFL draft, Alouettes GM Danny Maciocia says. “We keep watching and thinking about the possible scenarios that could come up.” Photo by Allen McInnis /Montreal Gazette

Danny Maciocia had to wait a year before fielding a team, thanks to COVID-19. Now, two years after being hired as Alouettes general manager, he finally gets a first-round pick in Tuesday night’s CFL draft (8pm, TSN1, TSN3, RDS).

“You have it and it’s a good pick, right in the middle,” Maciocia told the Montreal Gazette on Monday. “It has value. You know you’re going to get a (good) player. You know you’re going to get calls for it. It’s a totally different feeling, different situation than the last couple of years.”

The Als have the fourth overall selection, and eight picks in total, in what’s considered a decent, but not particularly deep, draft. This marks the first time since 2018 Montreal has enjoyed a first-round choice.

The Als forfeited what would have been the first overall pick in 2019 by selecting offensive-tackle Tyler Johnstone in the supplemental draft the previous July. But Johnstone played only six games over two seasons for the team because of injuries. Former GM Kavis Reed subsequently traded the Als’ first-round choices in both 2020 and ’21 as part of a multiplayer package for, among others, quarterback Johnny Manziel.

Maciocia, who was hired in January 2020, selected offensive-lineman Pier-Olivier Lestage in the second-round (10th overall) last season, while safety Marc-Antoine Dequoy went 14th overall in 2020. Lestage is with the Seattle Seahawks, while Dequoy is expected to be the Als’ starting safety this season, replacing Ty Cranston, who signed with Ottawa as a free agent.

If you’ve noticed a trend here, Maciocia, the former head coach at Université de Montréal, tends to pick Quebec-born players he’s familiar with early. All things being equal, Maciocia said there are benefits taking a local product, be it a francophone or anglophone. But he denied being mandated to select accordingly.

“Wouldn’t you want to play in your hometown for the team you grew up watching?” Maciocia asked. “Beyond the attachment you have — and after the entry-level contract — there’s a stronger possibility they’re going to want to stay home. They can also use it as a springboard to post-career possibilities. I think you win, on and off the field.

“But again, one last time, everything being equal — that should be in big, bold letters — sometimes people think you’re automatically going with a Quebecer. That’s not accurate or correct one bit.”

Despite all the work put in by Maciocia and his staff preparing for the draft, he anticipated being in his Olympic Stadium office until close to midnight on Monday. The day involves numerous discussions and meetings, not only with his staff but potential draft-eligible players. Although they’ve all been interviewed, Maciocia must ensure no last-minute changes have occurred.

Also, in case the Als have their sights set on a player who will attend an NFL team’s rookie mini-camp over the next two weekends, calls must be placed to those clubs, determining whether the player’s in their long-range plans or is simply to camp body.

“Are we comfortable the way we set the board?” Maciocia asked. “Whether it’s (Monday) or (Tuesday), only fools don’t change their mind. We keep watching and thinking about the possible scenarios that could come up.”

That includes a potential trade. While Edmonton, with the first overall choice, would receive the bulk of any trade offers, Maciocia admitted inquiries have been made to the organization. He said he would relinquish the pick only if it makes sense from a strategic standpoint.

“It’s got to be someone we feel really strongly about,” he said. “Someone we think is going to change the ratio. Someone we feel we can get on a run with and build around. It doesn’t matter the position. A difference-maker.”

Meanwhile, Maciocia is simply content knowing he won’t have to approach the opening round with anxiety, hoping the potential players he has targeted don’t get selected. He’ll sleep Monday night feeling some sense of comfort, for a change.

“We don’t have to worry about people falling,” he said. “We can project. Who are the top four? We’re going to get one of them. Is this the guy we want? It’s a totally different conversation.”

Earlier on Tuesday, the CFL conducts its global draft in which the Als select first overall, 18th and 19th. While overshadowed by the evening process, teams were required to activate one global player each game last season. In Montreal’s case, that was Australian punter Joseph Zema. On occasion, Taku Lee or Akio Yamagashi dressed and played on special teams.

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