Where Matthew Stafford and Mark Sanchez Should Go: St. Louis and Seattle

With the NFL Draft coming here rapidly approaching, the top quarterbacks, as always, seem to be the biggest stories. This year's top two signal callers are Matthew Stafford and Mark Sanchez.

All the speculation is that Stafford will go with the first pick to the Detroit Lions and Sanchez will not be far behind.

As a lifelong fan of the Detroit Lions, I am hoping against hope that they do not take Stafford. It isn't that I don't want him, it is just that I don't think it is good for him or the Lions.

They were 0-16 for a reason. You put a kid fresh out of college on the worst NFL team and expect him to turn the team around. It doesn't work like that. If you study it, there are way more Ryan Leaf's than Peyton Manning's.

The worst teams in the league generally don't have quality QBs and force their kid in way before they are ready. In the end, the kid never lives up to the hype because they are not properly prepared.

Quarterback is a position that is different from others. You have to be a leader on the field. A QB should know that playbook inside and out before he ever takes a snap in the NFL.

In order to be a leader, one must earn the respect of his teammates. That happens over time, not overnight.

A quarterback's rookie season should be spent carrying a clipboard, learning the playbook, and running the scout team.

I know there are plenty of readers right now thinking, "What about Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco?"

Those guys are the exception, not the rule. Both had a strong defense and a solid running game. Therefore, they weren't asked to do much.

The same can be said of Ben Rothliesberger when he started as a rookie. Those guys thrived due to a unique situation.

Does Detroit have a strong defense? No Way!

What about a running game? Kevin Smith is emerging but still has a lot to prove.

Therefore taking a QB would be foolish. 

St. Louis and Seattle would be the best places for Stafford and Sanchez.

The reasons are Marc Bulger and Matt Hasselbeck. Bulger is overrated and injuries have slowed Hasselbeck.

Nonetheless, these guys can still start one or two more years and the young guys can properly be prepared.

I have always believed that the best time to draft a QB is when you need one the least. It may not make sense when you first hear it, but the more you research it it is what makes the most sense.