Alouettes are willing to deal the top pick in Thursday’s CFL draft

Kavis Reed is open for business.

The Montreal Alouettes general manager has the first pick overall in the 2018 Canadian Football League draft, but said Monday he’s open to trading it.

“We’ve had some inquiries about the pick,” Reed said during a conference call. “If an offer comes our way that will allow us to improve our roster in the short- and long-term we’d entertain it.”

Reed said the Alouettes have narrowed down their potential choices for the first overall selection Thursday night to five prospects. Included in that group are Trey Rutherford, a six-foot-five, 312-pound offensive lineman at UConn, and Mark Chapman, a six-foot, 180-pound receiver at Central Michigan.

Rutherford, of Markham, appeared in 44 games at UConn — including 10 as a true freshman in 2014 — and saw action at fullback as well as both guard and tackle spots but considers guard his natural position. Chapman, a dual Canadian-American citizen, had 59 catches for 875 yards and five TDs last season at Central Michigan.

Neither Rutherford nor Chapman signed National Football League contracts last weekend after being bypassed in the draft. So if they’re selected by a CFL team, either player can sign immediately and not miss any time with their new clubs.

“Both those individuals had stellar collegiate careers and we’ve watched them very closely like most of the prospects,” Reed said. “They’ve awarded themselves the opportunity to be in the conversation. Them and three others have been highly vetted, we’ve spoken to the agents and we’ll see where it goes from there.”

The Als secured the No. 1 selection after posting a league-worst 3-15 record last season. While he’s open to dealing the first overall pick, Reed said moving it or trading down will have to make sense for the Alouettes.

“One of the things we’ve been very diligent about doing is being certain we understand exactly where we’re willing to move to if we were to move the pick,” he said.

“When it comes to that pick ... we want that person to be a contributor at some point this season so we’re not just going to move back for the sake of moving back.”

Reed admits Montreal has holes to fill.

“We always want to address the offensive line, we always want to take a look at depth we have in the receiving corps,” he said. “Our linebacking corps will be a priority as well as we look to get better in our special-teams corps.”

Montreal struggled at quarterback last year as veteran Darian Durant had more interceptions (16) than TDs (15). Durant is now with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, leaving journeyman Drew Willy — entering his seventh CFL season — as the Alouettes’ most experienced quarterback.

Sherman liked what he saw from Montreal’s quarterbacks during the club’s mini-camp in Florida earlier this month, but has definitely tempered his enthusiasm. “What I saw at minicamp was we have quality players at that position,” he said. “But at the same time with shorts on, without a pass rush, without all the other nuances that come with the game of football it’s hard to evaluate until the lights are on and it’s real.