The Montreal Alouettes have selected linebacker Tyrell Richards of Brampton, Ontario first overall in the 2022 Canadian Football League Draft. Richards played three seasons with the University of Syracuse from 2018 to 2020 before deciding to coach his high school, Clarkson Secondary School in Mississauga, Ontario, for the 2021 football season.
Richards played 23 games for the Orange. He had 55 tackles (35 solo tackles and 20 solo tackles), nine tackles for a loss, six sacks, one interception, two pass deflections, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble.
The Alouettes entered the 2022 CFL Draft with the number four pick. However, they traded their fourth overall pick and the rights to offensive lineman Carter O’Donnell of Calgary, Alberta to the Edmonton Elks for the first overall pick. With the fourth overall pick, the Elks selected defensive back Enock Makonzo of Lachine, Quebec, a defensive back out of Coastal Carolina.
One of the most interesting picks in the first round was made by the Elks. With the eighth pick in the first round, Edmonton selected quarterback Tre Ford of Niagara Falls, Ontario. In 2021, Ford became the very first University of Waterloo Warriors player to win he Hec Crighton Trophy, presented to the top Canadian football player in the Canadian university system.
