The first round of the 2008 NFL draft came and went without a single receiver or tight end chosen.

The dam burst thereafter. Eight receivers and three tight ends went in the second round, with the Redskins in a sense leading the way. With three picks in the round, the Redskins chose receivers Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly and tight end Fred Davis.

It’s no secret that trio has enjoyed limited success so far. The standout of the round two class of ’08 is DeSean Jackson of the Philadelphia Eagles with Eddie Royal of the Denver Broncos just behind him.

Jackson brought big-play capability to the Eagles not only downfield but with his punt returns. He has scored seven touchdowns this season, all of them 48 yards or longer (two of them previously against the Redskins, who play the Eagles Sunday in Philadelphia).

He creates coverage nightmares and game-breaking plays.

“You have to have a guy on him and a guy behind him, helping in any way he can,” says Redskins head coach Jim Zorn. “And if he does touch the ball, you have to make him pay.”

Maybe the Redskins can send him a bill. Back in Week 7, Jackson scored on a 67-yard reverse less than two minutes into the game and then caught a 57-yard touchdown pass in the Eagles’ 27-17 victory at FedExField.

The maturation of receivers can be a slow process. Thomas has one touchdown reception, Kelly none. We’re talking career here. They’re not the only receivers taken a year ago who have yet to find their way.

The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Limas Sweed and he has seven catches. The Buffalo Bills took James Hardy and he has nine. The Cincinnati Bengals picked Jerome Simpson, who caught one pass as a rookie.

Donnie Avery was the first of the receivers selected, going 33rd overall to the St. Louis Rams. He quickly established himself as a deep threat and has 83 career receptions for seven touchdowns. The Redskins then selected Thomas.

Next was Jordy Nelson, going to the Green Bay Packers. He has 47 catches, four for touchdowns. Hardy and Royal followed. Then Simpson. Then Jackson. Then Kelly and Sweed.

Of the three tight ends, John Carlson has been the most notable. He promptly moved into the Seattle Seahawks’ starting lineup on day one and has 89 catches, eight for scores. The Dallas Cowboys chose Martellus Bennett late in the round – he has 33 receptions for four touchdowns. Davis has 26 catches, one for a touchdown.

Not all of these players were in the best position to make instant contributions. Thomas and Kelly came in behind Santana Moss and Antwaan Randle El and Davis backed up Chris Cooley, a Pro Bowler. Sweed can’t unseat Santonio Holmes and Hines Ward. Nelson is caught in a numbers game in Green Bay, where Donald Driver and Greg Jennings dominate.

Jackson found the perfect situation with a team that had an offensive scheme well in place, an established quarterback and the need for exactly his skills.

Paired with rookie Jeremy Maclin, a No. 1 choice this year, the Eagles can put quickness and speed on the outside, with a quarterback (Donovan McNabb) who has been in the same offense for 11 years.

“I always thought our receivers were okay,” says Eagles head coach Andy Reid. “We didn’t spend quite as high draft picks on them. We’ve invested there with draft picks (now), very similar to what the Redskins did.”

True in part. The Eagles drafted several receivers over the years, to no good end. Todd Pinkston was a No. 2 in 2000. He played five middling seasons in Philly. Freddie Mitchell was a No. 1 pick in 2001 and never really cut it. Reggie Brown was a No. 2 in 2005 and he has been eclipsed. They fiddled with Billy McMullen, Greg Lewis and Hank Baskett as well.

Jackson can do it all for the Eagles, and he does do it all. He has five touchdown catches, one rushing touchdown and another on an 85-yard punt return.

“He’s a talented player,” McNabb says. “You want to try to get the ball in his hands. Give him some time. He’s going to develop into one of the great ones.”

There’s always hope with receivers. Right up until there isn’t.
 
WES IS BES’: Wes Welker missed two games with a knee injury and he’s hardly the biggest name in the New England Patriots’ arsenal. Yet he’s the NFL’s leading receiver through Week 11 with 79 catches and he’s coming off a 15-catch, 192-yard performance in a victory against the New York Jets.

The Patriots (7-3) will need every bit of what the diminutive Welker brings to the table when they visit the unbeaten (10-0) New Orleans Saints on Monday night.

The game matches the NFL’s two most prolific offenses.

Paired with Randy Moss at receiver, Welker often benefits from the double-coverage courtesies extended to his compatriot. The way the Patriots use him also suits his talents.

“When you line up in the slot, you have the whole field to work with,” quarterback Tom Brady says. “Wes is able to use his quickness to get open over the middle, in the flat, down the field.”

Says coach Bill Belichick: “He’s probably the best slot receiver in the league.”

Welker pays all compliments little mind.

“We have a lot of weapons around here,” he says. “Week to week it’s always different guys stepping up. Last week happened to be mine.”

QUOTABLE: “Those are the rules. This is the format that is the NFL. You can’t be frustrated with the system.” – Atlanta Falcons QB Matt Ryan on the way ‘sudden victory overtime’ works. The Falcons lost 34-31 to the New York Giants in OT and never saw the football after the Giants won the coin toss and scored on their initial possession. ... “That’s what this league comes down to – being able to function at crunch time.” – Jacksonville Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio on QB David Garrard, who has led his team to the winning touchdown on the team’s final drive in three of the last five games. ... “We feel we aren’t meant to lose to anybody. At the end of the day, it’s who makes plays.” – Pittsburgh Steelers NT Casey Hampton, whose team has lost its last two games. ... “Because I don’t think he’s going to get any better sitting on the sideline.” – New York Jets coach Rex Ryan, explaining why he wouldn’t consider benching struggling rookie QB Mark Sanchez. ... “My first emotion is anger. It really is. Anger, because it doesn’t have to be like this.” – San Francisco 49ers coach Mike Singletary on his emotional response to the team’s 4-6 record.

EXTRA POINTS: The 98-yard TD pass play from Ryan Fitzpatrick to Terrell Owens was the longest in Buffalo Bills history, erasing just a little bit of the legacy of Todd Collins. The Redskins’ backup QB began his career in Buffalo and his 95-yard scoring strike to Quinn Early in 1996 was the previous longest play in Bills’ history. ... Remember the Arizona Cardinals’ road struggles last year? Clearly a thing of the past. They’re 5-0 away from home, and those five victories are their most on the road in a single season since they won six in 1975. ... St. Louis Rams RB Steven Jackson has rushed for more than 100 yards in four consecutive games, a personal best. He leads the NFC with 1,031 yards and averages 4.8 yards per carry. ... The Philadelphia Eagles’ 24-20 victory against the Chicago Bears snapped a seven-game losing streak in Sunday night games. ... The Redskins and Dallas Cowboys are tied for fewest takeaways in the NFL (12). The Redskins’ six interceptions also tie them for last. ... How low can you go? The Seattle Seahawks were held to a franchise-worst four yards rushing by the Minnesota Vikings, breaking the record of 14 set just five weeks ago when the Cardinals racked and stacked them.

Larry Weisman covered professional football for USA TODAY for 25 years and now joins the Redskins Broadcast Network and Redskins.com to bring his unique viewpoint and experience to Redskins fans. Go to Redskins.com for the Redskins Blitz column and NFL Blitz on Friday. Larry also appears on The Jim Zorn Show on WRC-TV on Saturday night, on Redskins Nation, airing twice nightly on Comcast SportsNet, and on ESPN 980 AM radio, all in the Washington, D.C. area. Read his blog at redskinsrule.com and follow him on Twitter.com/LarryWeisman.