Washington wants to deal top pick for elite receiver

By Jason Reid and Jason La Canfora

WASHINGTON

The Washington Redskins attended the final workouts of wide receiver Malcolm Kelly and defensive end Phillip Merling - among the top players on their draft board - at their college campuses Thursday while continuing to pursue trades for an elite wide receiver before this weekend's NFL draft.

The Redskins have tried to trade their first-round pick, the 21st overall, for a top wide receiver. Washington has been rebuffed in its attempts to acquire Cincinnati's Chad Johnson and Arizona's Anquan Boldin, but still might try to trade for Detroit's Roy Williams, league sources said.

If Washington can't deal its top pick for a receiver, executive vice president of football operations Vinny Cerrato said it could be best for the Redskins to trade down in the draft because the top players they have targeted might be gone.

Cerrato has offered the 21st pick to teams selecting right behind the Redskins in the first round and those with high picks in the second round.

If Washington fails to acquire the veteran wide receiver it is seeking, it could select Kelly. He is listed at 6-foot- 4 and 218 pounds, which would make him the second-biggest wide receiver on the roster behind Anthony Mix (6-5, 235).

Cerrato has said he would prefer to provide a larger target for Jason Campbell as Washington transitions to Jim Zorn's version of the West Coast offense, and starting receivers Santana Moss and Antwaan Randle El are 5-10.

Kelly is second on Oklahoma's all-time list with 2,285 yards receiving and fifth with 144 receptions.