NFL Draft: Mark Sanchez Is 2009s Adrian Peterson, Not Michael Crabtree

Some have compared Michael Crabtree in this year's draft to Adrian Peterson, and how he tumbled in 2007 to seventh overall.  However, the truth is that Mark Sanchez is this year's Adrian Peterson.  Or should I say this year's Ben Roethlisberger?

Anyone with a brain would say that Seattle needs a quarterback in the 2009 NFL draft.

I'm not the type who believes that "anyone" can throw behind certain lines.  For Matt Hasselbeck to start in the NFL means that he had skills.  He also had flaws, which were masked by an All-Pro line, an MVP at running back, and weak opponents. 

Those flaws are no longer masked, and his health is now questionable.  He also has not kept up with the changing competition in the NFC West.

Seattle is weak at quarterback.  Hasselbeck has been overrated thanks to Shaun Alexander and the offensive linemen he once had (Steve Hutchinson, Robbie Tobeck, Chris Gray).

How can people blame the receivers when Seattle has not had a big-time receiver, yet Hasselbeck still succeeded?  It was because he had all day to throw—thanks to that former line, Alexander, and weak opponents.  Now, however, Hasselbeck fools no one, and the interior of the Seattle offensive line has been gutted.

The problem with the Seattle offensive line is left guard, center, and right guard—not tackle.  Thus, Eugene Monroe would not add anything to the line—just swap a future Hall of Famer for a rookie.  People then argue that Walter Jones is nearing retirement age—so is Matt Hasselbeck.

Why phase out a Hall of Fame tackle when you can phase out a quarterback who hasn't kept up in a changing division, especially when QBs that lose in their Super Bowl debut do not return (except Hall of Fame QBs)?  Hasselbeck is not a Hall of Famer. But Walter Jones is.

The reality is that there are far more real questions around Hasselbeck than Jones.  But some clearly refuse to believe those questions have resulted from Hasselbeck, and instead point the finger away from the problem. 

Oh, it's the wide receiver. It's the tackle.  It's the defense.  Nope, it's Hasselbeck.

You might say that you need a left tackle to protect the passer.  The truth is, however, that capable tackles can be found in free agency or developed from second day draft picks.

Meanwhile, with occasional exceptions (Tom Brady, Rich Gannon, Drew Brees), franchise quarterbacks always go early in the draft and/or cannot be found in free-agency.

Thus, if you know that you can take a franchise passer today, rather than cross your fingers and hope to luck out, why not take the passer when you have the opportunity? 

I realize that Hasselbeck went in the sixth round, but I happen to believe he was the product of a good situation—an All-Pro line, an MVP runner, Mike Holmgren, and mediocre competition.  That would also explain why the Seahawks could win their Division but would choke against quality opponents.

Some have said that, with another year at USC, Mark Sanchez could be the No. 1 quarterback in the 2010 draft.

Thus, if your team knows their quarterback is in the final year of his contract, has been hurt, and is nearing the age of retirement, why not take a QB (Sanchez) and groom him in your organization for a year (instead of another year in college)? 

As for Hasselbeck, he needs to re-earn his status anyway, and if and only if he does, the Seahawks can tag-and-trade him and be ready to start anew with a franchise quarterback who can play for more than a decade.

After all, Sanchez was ready to leave for the pros, unlike Matt Leinart and Carson Palmer.  USC is different than most college programs because of the fact that Los Angeles does not have a pro team.  Thus, the Trojans are the big-ticket in a big town, the star players are celebrities, and the team is treated like royalty.

Don't get me wrong.  I'm not denigrating that atmosphere, but I think it creates a challenge for any Trojan going pro.  If I'm being honest, I would have a hard time walking away from that, too.

So why should I believe that USC players do not have trouble walking away from it?  The fact, however, is that Sanchez has shown he his ready to move on to the pros.

The bottom line is that some teams plan ahead—like Pittsburgh, who of course jumped for Ben Roethlisberger at 11th overall in 2004 even though they had Tommy Maddox.  Others insist on things that aren't there and suffer for years because of it.  Like the Raiders in 2004, when they passed on Ben Roethlisberger for OL Robert Gallery, because they had Kerry Collins (who, like Hasselbeck, lost in his Super Bowl debut).

Seattle has four guys who can catch: Nate Burleson, TJ Houshmandzadeh, Deion Branch, and John Carlson.

Seattle needs interior linemen to fix their line, not tackles. They also need to realize that ignoring the questions around Hasselbeck (and passing on Sanchez) will only result in futility.