7 Players That Mark Sanchez Would Most Love for the New York Jets to Draft

Every Jets fan has his wish list set for April 26th, the start of the NFL draft.

Some want the Jets to find that dominant pass-rusher while others are eyeing up someone for the outside linebacker position.

While Mark Sanchez probably doesn't do close to the amount of research that Jets draft fanatics do, you can bet the fourth-year quarterback will have a close eye on which direction the Jets go in the draft.

Sanchez surely recognizes the importance of tightening up the defense and filling some of their obvious holes, but if the Jets pick any of the following seven players, it will end up making Sanchez a one happy quarterback.

Cordy Glenn (Georgia G/T)

First and foremost, Mark Sanchez would really appreciate it if the Jets decided to protect his health and well-being in 2012.  

Sanchez must have nightmares in which he looks to his right when he is under center and sees the name "Hunter" on the back of his right tackle's jersey.  

When he wakes up from those nightmares, the current reality isn't that much better.  Wayne Hunter's contract was guaranteed for 2012 and Mike Tannenbaum has said that he expects Hunter to be the starting right tackle this year.

Tannenbaum also said that Brian Schottenheimer's job was safe after this year, so maybe you should take what he says with a grain of salt.

If the Jets decide that their quarterback has a better chance of completing his passes while standing upright, they will draft Cordy Glenn if he is available.

At 6'5", 345 pounds, Glenn is a mountain of a man with surprising athleticism and the versatility to play guard or tackle.  At this point, he is probably projected more as a guard, but if the Jets put him at tackle the day after the draft, it would be an immediate upgrade.

Sanchez should throw a party if the Jets spend a high draft choice on anyone capable of playing right tackle, especially if it is Glenn.

David DeCastro (Stanford G)

While David DeCastro won't solve the Jets problems at right tackle, Mark Sanchez should be elated if he ends up with the Jets.

The Jets don't have a major need at guard as the underrated Brandon Moore is coming off his first Pro Bowl season and Matt Slauson is developing nicely, but if the Jets have the chance to add DeCastro, they should take him.

By all accounts, DeCastro is the top guard prospect to come along in years and should become an elite player at his position quickly.  

The main reason Sanchez should celebrate if DeCastro ended up a Jet is because it would signify that the Jets are committed towards building a dominant offensive line not just in 2012, but well into the future.

The Jets still have multiple holes across their roster, even after free agency.  But if the Jets forego plugging those holes (at least for one round) in favor of an elite offensive lineman, Sanchez will have the confidence to know that the Jets do have a long-range plan.

Also, with Slauson coming off extensive shoulder surgery and Moore not getting any younger, adding DeCastro would be a perfect insurance policy against any kind of catastrophic injury that could turn the line into even more of a sieve than it was last year.

Michael Floyd (Notre Dame WR)

Mark Sanchez would surely appreciate any efforts the Jets make to protect him better than they did in 2011, but coming in a close second would be finding him another legitimate offensive weapon.

At the top of that list should be Michael Floyd.

After a strong performance at the combine, Floyd solidified himself as the second-best receiver in the draft behind Justin Blackmon.

Floyd is a complete receiver who isn't afraid to make the tough catch over the middle.  In fact, his profile reads somewhat like that of Jerricho Cotchery, a target Sanchez missed dearly in 2011. But Floyd may have a greater upside.

While it might take Sanchez a while to develop the chemistry with Floyd that he had with Cotchery, Sanchez will at least know that he has a reliable option over the middle.

The knock on Floyd was that he doesn't have the breakaway speed needed to become an elite NFL receiver.  However, he did a little to quell that notion when he ran a 4.47 40 at the combine.

Some questions still linger about whether his game speed matches his workout speed, but he would be an upgrade at a position that sorely needs it. 

Mohamed Sanu (Rutgers WR)

The reason Mark Sanchez would love this pick is because it means the Jets get an absolute steal in Round 2 of the NFL draft.

By no means is Mohamed Sanu a candidate to be selected with the 16th pick overall (at least one would hope not) but if he falls to the Jets in the second round, they would have no choice but to pick the talented 6'2" receiver.

While Sanu is likely to be gone by the time the Jets pick in the second round, uneven results in his combine and pro day coupled with a deep receiver class could push him down to the Jets.

Sanu ran a disappointing 4.65 40-yard dash at the NFL combine, pushing his stock down considerably.  However, he redeemed himself when he ran a 4.41 and 4.48 at Rutgers' pro day in March.

If those inconsistencies raise enough questions, players like Kendall Wright, Rueben Randle and Alshon Jeffery could leapfrog Sanu, sending him tumbling down to the middle of the second round.

If the Jets address one of their other many roster deficiencies in the first round and are still able to land Sanu in Round 2, Sanchez should be dancing around Radio City Music Hall.

Coby Fleener (Stanford TE)

Drafting a tight end will anger Jets fans who still suffer post-traumatic stress disorder from the Kyle Brady and Johnny Mitchell selections, but this is a slideshow on who Mark Sanchez would love.

Coby Fleener is the best option in a weak tight end class, and at 6'6", 245 pounds would be a huge target in the red zone, something the Jets are lacking after the departure of Plaxico Burress.

Fleener is the same height as Rob Gronkowski and as the NFL evolves into a league in which having a huge tight end is becoming essential, he would be much more of a mismatch for defensive backs than Dustin Keller.

The reality is that the Jets have too many holes to fill to spend a high pick on a tight end and Fleener figures to be drafted somewhere between the Jets first two picks, so there is little chance he winds up wearing the green and white.

But Sanchez can dream, can't he?

Trent Richardson (Alabama RB)

Trent Richardson is rated as the best running back in the draft by a long shot.  He has been projected to go as high as fourth overall to the Cleveland Browns and should easily be a top 10 pick.

However, a number of teams drafting ahead of the Jets do not have needs at running back, so there is a chance that if a few teams pass on Richardson early, he could begin to fall.

If that's the case, the Jets could either wait to see if he drops to 16 or package some of their 10 picks to move up and nab him.

A Jets backfield that features Richardson, Shonn Greene, John Connor and yes, Tim Tebow would take a tremendous amount of pressure off Sanchez and hopefully have a snowball effect of positivity for the whole offense.

Teams would have to respect the Jets running game so much that they would have to commit extra defenders to stopping the run, thus meaning fewer players blitzing or confusing Sanchez in the secondary.

A dominant running game would also help Sanchez's primary targets on passing routes get open more often and allow him to find the rhythm he needs to thrive.

Most Jets fans would be quite happy if they landed the top running back in the draft, and Sanchez would be at the top of that list.

Chris Polk (Washington RB)

If the Jets fail to land Trent Richardson, Washington running back Chris Polk would not be a bad fallback plan.

Sanchez would love Polk because of his all-around game as a running back.  

Polk's power-running style would make the Jets backfield a nightmare to deal with as he would spend all game punishing defenders along with Shonn Greene and John Connor.  Basically, no tackle would be an easy one to make.

What Sanchez would really love about this pick though is that Polk projects to also be a capable receiver out of the backfield.  

The Jets relied on LaDainian Tomlinson in that role over the past two seasons and while Joe McKnight could project into Tomlinson's role, Polk would be a better option.

A backfield tandem of Polk and Greene would give the Jets a duo similar to 2009 when Green teamed with Thomas Jones to give the Jets two downhill runners who have the ability to wear down a defense and fight for the tough yards.

Polk doesn't project as a first-round pick and if the Jets reached for him there, expect to hear vocal disapproval from the hostile NFL draft crowd.  However, if Polk falls to the Jets in the second round, Jets fans and Sanchez alike will be happy to add him to the roster.