It's feast or famine for rookie receivers

Editor's note: This is the first in a nine-part series previewing the NFL draft on April 25-26. Today's installment is a look at the receivers and tight ends.

There is almost no in-between for NFL rookie receivers. They either go boom or bust.

Take last year, for example.

No receivers, perhaps because of how difficult their transition is from college football to the pros, were selected in the first round of the NFL draft in 2008. It was the first time that had happened in 18 years. A total of 10 were taken in the second round, and they are great examples of how the production of rookie receivers is usually feast or famine, and usually famine.

Broncos receiver Eddie Royal, the 11th pick of the second round, was one of the surprise players of the 2008 season, as he recorded 91 receptions for 980 yards and five touchdowns. Bills receiver James Hardy, taken one pick before Royal, caught nine passes for 87 yards and two short touchdowns.

Four of the 10 receivers caught more than 30 receptions as rookies, while five of them had fewer than 10 catches.

"It's rare that rookies come in and factor in at any position," Giants general manager Jerry Reese said in a press conference on Thursday. "I don't know if anybody can come in and be a Randy Moss, but there are rookies ... the young kid in Philadelphia (DeSean Jackson) played well for them and (Marques) Colston, a seventh-round pick, played well as a rookie."

NFL teams appear to be more willing to roll the dice with a stronger group of receivers this year than last. Receiver may be the deepest position in the 2009 draft, and as many as six could go in the first round.

Heading the 2009 class of pass-catchers is Texas Tech's Michael Crabtree. He declared for the draft after dominating collegiately for two seasons. His numbers, against high quality competition, were sick. He caught 231 passes and 41 touchdowns in 26 career games. It only took him two seasons to become the Red Raiders' all-time leading receiver.

Crabtree, despite lighting up his NCAA opponents, is viewed by some as a risky pick. He recently had surgery to fix a stress fracture in his foot, and he didn't run a 40 for pro scouts. Still, what he did on film speaks volumes.

Crabtree could end up with the Seahawks, Browns or Raiders early in the draft.

Although there are questions regarding Crabtree's speed, there are no such concerns regarding some of the other top prospects.