Jets, Colts to Hold Private Workouts for QB Mark Sanchez

The combine is over, we're a week into free agency, and the draft is less than two months away. For NFL teams, this time of year is about finding cheap, young talent to replace aging or ineffective veterans, and the draft evaluation process is a big part of that.

Everybody agrees that Matthew Stafford and Mark Sanchez are the draft's two best quarterbacks, the only question is where they will end up. The Lions, who have the first-overall pick, are the favorites to take Stafford, but they could very easily select an offensive lineman -- just as big a need -- at No. 1. (And it may also help explain all the Jay Cutler trade talk.)

Mock drafts have Sanchez going anywhere from third overall (Chiefs) to falling out of the first round altogether.

He'll likely go somewhere in between (riveting analysis, I know ... but also the most probable). The Los Angels Daily News briefly notes two possible destinations: "Quarterback Mark Sanchez is expected to perform private workouts for the New York Jets and Indianapolis Colts before participating in USC's Pro Day on April 1."

Now, this could be nothing more than the Jets and Colts doing their due diligence. Rex Ryan claims he's happy to go into the 2009 season with Kellen Clemens and Brett Ratliff, but if Sanchez is available when New York goes on the clock with the 17th pick, he'll almost surely be an option. And his chances got a lot better when the Jets traded for Lito Sheppard, who filled a gaping need at cornerback.

It's odd to think of the Colts without Peyton Manning, but at some point the 12-year veteran will go on to pursue his true love: making commercials. Presumably, team president Bill Polian would prefer that day come when the depth chart lists more than Jim Sorgi as the backup. And I suspect Sorgi feels similarly.

Again, Indianapolis putting Sanchez through the paces at a private workout could be nothing more than a team doing its homework. But there's also the very real possibility that the Colts and the Jets are, for very different reasons, preparing for the future.