Courtesy Regina Leader Post:

In the hours leading up to last week’s CFL draft — and even on the morning of the conscription process itself — the Montreal Alouettes turned down multiple trade offers, according to sources.

Montreal wide receiver Kerry Watkins was the central figure in the discussions.

According to three sources, the Alouettes were negotiating a three-way trade involving the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Hamilton Tiger-Cats the day before the draft.

Montreal would have traded Watkins to the Roughriders for the fourth overall draft choice — Montreal was stripped off its first-round pick due to a salary-cap violation — along with an import player, believed to be a running back or receiver.

Saskatchewan, in turn, would have immediately flipped Watkins to the Tiger-Cats for the first overall draft choice.

“You’re on the right track,” one source indicated. “I know for sure that Hamilton had a chance to get Kerry Watkins.

“I think (Alouettes general manager Jim) Popp pulled the plug. Jim has to win every trade, slam-dunk. If a trade makes the team a little better, he won’t do it.”

University of Saskatchewan safety Dylan Barker, a Moose Jaw native, was the first pick in the draft.

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