First overall pick won’t be at Ticats training camp

The first overall pick in the 2018 CFL Draft won’t be at Hamilton Tiger-Cats training camp when it gets underway Sunday morning.

The team announced the signing of seven of their selections early Sunday but there were two names missing: receiver Mark Chapman, who taken at No. 1 by the club, and offensive lineman Darius Ciraco, selected at No. 6.

Hamilton did sign defensive backs Jackson Bennett and Nicholas Parisotto, defensive linemen Brett Wade and Joel Van Pelt, wide receivers Marcus Davis and Justin Buren and linebacker Mike Moore. All signed three-year deals.

The Ticats traded all-star guard Ryan Bomben and the second overall pick to the Montreal Alouettes in order to move up and select Chapman, who led Central Michigan University with 59 receptions and 875 yards while reaching the end zone five times in 13 games during his senior season in 2017. He made 147 receptions for 2,035 yards and 10 touchdowns over four years with the Chippewas.

They also traded up to acquire Ciraco, sending a second-round pick (10th overall) and third-round pick (20th overall) to the Eskimos. The Ticats also got a fifth-round pick (37th overall) in the deal.

That the Ticats were unable to reach a deal with their top two draft picks comes one day after the team announced the signing of quarterback Johnny Manziel to a contract with $150,000 in hard money, including a $10,000 signing bonus.