No Sanchez in the FanHouse Mocks?

With the launch of the FanHouse Mock Draft 3.0 Wednesday, Mark Sanchez was left off the mock for the third straight time (out of three chances total). Almost every other Web site that compiles a mock draft has him going in the first round, and some have him in the top half of the first round.

You'll find comments peppered throughout our three mocks ranging from us being stupid to negligent. I can assure you we definitely didn't just forget about him. You'll find a compilation of thoughts as to why he wasn't taken in any of our three first run-throughs after the jump.

First of all, we can all agree that the following teams will definitely not use their first-round pick on a quarterback: Chiefs, Seahawks, Bengals, Packers, Saints, Chargers, Eagles, Patriots, Falcons, Dolphins, Ravens, Colts, Giants, Titans, Cardinals and Steelers.

- The Browns already have too much money locked up in the position to add another quarterback.

- The Raiders likely can't afford to pass on giving JaMarcus Russell more chances.

- I can't see the Jags moving past David Garrard without drafting other positions first.

- The Rams have many more pressing needs (like a studly left tackle).

- The Bills are going to let Trent Edwards play with his new toy, T.O. Plus, they just signed a stellar backup in Ryan Fitzpatrick. I mean, you have to love the Fitz, right? He did raise his QB rating to an astronomical 70 last year, after all.

- The Lions appear set to draft Matthew Stafford, however, there is the possibility they trade down or decide to take Sanchez 20th (if they feel confident they can get him there).

For the rest, we'll turn to the individual bloggers who drafted for certain teams.

Matt Snyder (Bears, Redskins): I simply do not think the Bears are going to use a first-round pick on a quarterback. There are tons of other needs on this team more pressing than replacing Kyle Orton, who was having a solid season before an ankle injury derailed it. Plus, Orton's been given a vote of confidence from the team. They'll look elsewhere early in the draft.

The Redskins have seen enough good in Jason Campbell to improve upon other areas of the team first. Plus, he's awfully young and has had to continually learn new systems. They won't waste this pick on a quarterback.

Adam Gretz (Bucs, Niners): In the case of San Francisco, I just can't see them taking another quarterback with a top-10 pick just four years after getting absolutely smoked on Alex Smith. Maybe that's not the best strategy for a team to take, but I don't think Sanchez is good enough of a prospect to make them take that chance again. Plus, based on the fact they just re-worked Smith's deal, I think they still might see something in him.

As for Tampa Bay, well, in the most recent mock I actually considered picking Sanchez. In the end, however, I just kept thinking about how Tampa Bay's defense crumbled down the stretch and was, perhaps, the biggest reason that team faded and missed the playoffs. With the offseason purge and a new coaching staff, I think they start rebuilding that defense.

Stephanie Stradley (Texans): ESPN's Todd McShay has Sanchez going to the Texans in his most recent mock draft. He notes that it is a "bit of a surprise selection." Really? I call it unfathomably but impressively stupid. The Texans were third in the league in total offense and were the near the bottom of the league in just about every defensive category that matters but McShay wants the Texans to pick backup quarterback as their first round pick?

Why would the Texans or any team want to pay first-round money to a QB who is less than ideal NFL size, who has only played one full season of football, who couldn't start over John David Freaking Booty and whose college coach publicly said he wasn't ready?

Josh Alper (Jets, Broncos): What Stephanie wrote is about what I feel about the Jets passing on him. He'll cost too much money with too little evidence that he's worth it for a team with other needs to take him in the first round. If they'd signed a veteran starter I'd be more inclined to believe that they would pick a QB at 17, but with Kellen Clemens and Brett Ratliff looking more and more likely as competitors I don't think they'd throw a rookie into the mix.

I think the most likely outcome is that there's a replay of what happened with Brady Quinn and Joe Flacco and some team trades up to get them in the second half of the first round when they represent greater value.

Although, it would totally rock if the Broncos picked Sanchez without having done anything to deal with the Jay Cutler situation. I don't think they'll do it, but if things keep going down this road, probably shouldn't rule it out either. Clearly the best possible outcome.

J.J. Cooper (Vikings): I actually thought for a second about picking Sanchez, but with Sage Rosenfels now in Minnesota, I just don't think the Vikings will even consider it. To draft Sanchez would logically mean cutting Tarvaris Jackson and I've seen no indication that Brad Childress would do that.


So there you have it. We actually have reasons that Mr. Sanchez is falling out of our first round. We'll also concede that he's probably going to go sometime in the first round. As Alper predicted, once he starts falling, someone is going to make a trade and get him at what they believe is great value.

Either way, it never hurts to have more draft discussion.