Sanchez, Freeman QB Comparisons to Begin Immediately

By Joe Pietaro
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Updated: April 25, 2009

If you had a crystal ball, how many of the New York tabloids will be screaming for Mike Tannenbaum’s head after one bad game from Mark Sanchez and one eye-opener from Josh Freeman the same week? The general manager of the New York Jets pulled the trigger on a draft day deal to net his team the fifth overall pick, where he chose the former USC gunslinger.

The Jets were also interested in Freeman in the event they were unable to move up to get Sanchez. The Jets original slot at number 17 eventually went to Tampa Bay after Cleveland traded down and the Bucs picked Freeman.

To move up the 12 spots, the Jets had to not only give up their own first round pick, but their second rounder (number 52 overall), defensive end Kenyon Coleman, defensive back Abraham Elam and back-up quarterback Brett Ratliff.

Heading into the 2009 NFL Draft, there were three quarterbacks projected as first round picks. The Detroit Lions tabbed Matthew Stafford from Georgia first overall, but many draftniks have been saying that Sanchez has a better upside to him.

For the sake of the Jet fans that loudly approved of the move at Radio City Music Hall, they hopefully will be right.