Many Teams Looking To Make Their Mark By Drafting Sanchez

Mark Sanchez holds Rose Bowl trophy after leading Southern California to victory. Now, Sanchez gets to lead an East Coast squad onto the field, as Jets select him fifth overall in this year's NFL draft. (Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Times)

Just hours after the Detroit Lions put an end to the drama surrounding the first pick in the 2009 NFL draft by signing Matthew Stafford late last night, the token attention surrounding the quarterbacks whose names get called at Radio City Music Hall in New York has now fallen on yet another big name, Southern California's Mark Sanchez. Yes, the same Sanchez that led the Trojans to a Rose Bowl win last season as a redshirt sophomore. The same Sanchez that declared for the draft a month later and was called out by USC head coach Pete Carroll for doing so. Regardless of his past history, Sanchez will certainly make some today when he is drafted, potentially as high as No. 2 overall to the St. Louis Rams or maybe as low as the 17th pick to the New York Jets, but Gang Green is reportedly interested in trading up for Sanchez if he gets past the Cleveland Browns at No. 5, who have two quarterbacks already. However, Browns coach Eric Mangini is not enamored with neither Brady Quinn nor Derek Anderson.

The scenario involving Sanchez going to the Rams is by far the most outlandish, and it would have major implications on nearly every pick throughout the top 10, as the Seahawks, Jaguars and 49ers have their sights set on him as well. A blog on NFL.com has written that the Rams have reportedly bought Sanchez a one-way ticket to St. Louis for tomorrow, where they would introduce him as their top pick during a press conference. (You can see this by clicking here) Personally, Sanchez would have a better chance of falling outside the top 10 than going second overall, but this is the draft, where anything is possible. (All except the first pick now that Stafford is off the board)