Redskins get receiving help

Richmond Times Dispatch
Published: April 26, 2008

The Washington Redskins entered the first day of the NFL draft hoping to get either a big receiver or a better selection of draft choices.

They wound up with both, plus an extra wide receiver.

The Redskins traded out of the first round, giving the 21st overall selection to the Atlanta Falcons. The Redskins gained Atlanta’s first pick in the second round, 34th overall, as part of the deal. The Redskins then used that pick to select Devin Thomas, a 6-2, 216 pound wide receiver from Michigan State.

Thomas was a player the Redskins considered taking with that first-round pick. Had they done so, he would have cost considerably more money than they now will have to pay him.

“We were happy he was there,” Redskins coach Jim Zorn said. “That was the biggest surprise for us.

“He has size, speed and he can run after the catch. He’s a young player with a lot of upside. How quickly he’ll play depends on how well he picks up the offense. The athleticism is there. We just have to develop him.”

The Redskins deal with Atlanta involved a number of draft choices. The Redskins sent their first, a third and their fifth round choices to the Falcons. In return, the Falcons gave the Redskins two second round choices, No. 34 and 48, and a fourth-round choice, 103 overall.

The Redskins used pick No. 48 to take Fred Davis, a tight end from the University of Southern California.

With the 51st pick overall, which was Washington’s original second-round draft choice, the Redskins selected Malcolm Kelly, a 6-4, 219-pound wide receiver from Oklahoma.

“We had talked all week long about how, if we could get two picks from Atlanta, that would be an outstanding deal for us,” said Vinny Cerrato, the Redskins executive vice president for football operations. “We gave up a couple of other picks here and there, but we wanted 34 and 48.

“We didn’t know for sure what would be there, but as it worked out, basically the same guys that we were considering at 21 were the same guys we were considering at 34, minus Phillip Merling [defensive end from Clemson, drafted at No. 32 by Miami].”

Thomas was listed as a first-round draft choice by most draft analysts. Not only did he last until the second round, not a single receiver was taken in the first round. That last happened in 1990.

“It’s all right,” Thomas said. “I’m not really concerned about that. Things work out for a reason. There must be a reason for me to come to the Redskins.”

Thomas played two seasons at Michigan State, and they results could not have been more different. In 2006, he caught six passes for 90 yards and one touchdown. In 2007, he caught 79 passes for 1,260 yards and eight touchdowns.

“A new coaching staff came in with a new attitude and philosophy, and gave me a chance to excel,” Thomas said. “I went out and showed them what I could do.”

Thomas will have a chance to play immediately as the No.3 receiver for the Redskins. If things work according to plan, Thomas can line up on the outside in passing situations and No.2 wide receiver Antwaan Randle El will move into the slot, where his quickness off the line should enable him to find open spots in the middle of the field.

“I’m a bigger receiver who can go for jump balls and shield guys from the ball,” Thomas said. “I definitely a guy who can do that.”

Davis, 6-3 255, won the Mackey Award last year as the top tight end in the nation. Davis led the Trojans in receptions with 62 passes for 881 yards and eight touchdowns.

Davis holds the USC career record for receptions by a tight end with 117 for 1,408 yards.

Kelly caught 144 passes for 2,285 yards and 21 touchdowns in three seasons at Oklahoma.

“We were following our draft board,” Cerrato said. “When we got to the pick, Fred Davis was there, and we had a first-round grade on him.
“When we got to the next pick, Malcolm Kelly was still the only guy we had with a first-round grade. He was an obvious choice for us.”