The Redskins addressed their needs at tight end by trading up into the third round of the NFL Draft and selecting Utah State's Chris Cooley with the 81st overall pick.

Cooley, who visited Redskins Park two weeks ago, is a 6-3, 265-pound tight end/fullback who has also played some H-back in college.

Details of the trade: Washington and New Orleans swapped fifth-round picks in the 2004 NFL Draft, with the Redskins dropping back to 151st overall. (Saints now have the 139th pick.) In addition, Washington sent a second-round draft pick in the 2005 NFL Draft to the Saints.

Cooley, a former defensive lineman who moved to tight end in his sophomore season, led the nation's tight ends in receptions and receiving yards in 2003 and accounted for more than 25 percent of Utah State's passing yards.

In 2003, Cooley was a first-team All-Sun Belt Conference selection. As team captain, he earned a share of the team's Offensive MVP honors and was a finalist for the Mackey Award (given to the nation's top tight end). For the season, he recorded 62 receptions for 732 yards and six touchdowns.

Known more for his receiving skills, Cooley is also regarded as an excellent blocker. He twice earned the Aggies' Golden Helmet Award honors as the team's hardest hitter.

In his collegiate career, Cooley has appeared in 31 games on offense, starting 15 games, and has hauled in 95 passes for 1,255 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Cooley was also a valuable contributor on special teams at Utah State, playing on all of the Aggies' special teams units.

A native of Powell, Wyoming, Cooley attended Logan (UT) High School where he was an All-State selection as a senior, catching 46 passes for 625 yards at tight end. He also recorded eight sacks as a defensive end. He was also an All-American wrester in high school, going undefeated in his senior season and winning the state championship.