Sideline Scouting

Florida Times-Union

NFL draft analyst Mike Mayock of the NFL Network completed a conference call a few hours ago in preparation of next week’s annual NFL Combine circus.

One of the more accurate draft analysts in the biz, Mayock said Tuesday that a “darkhorse like the Jaguars” could come in and scoop up former USC quarterback Mark Sanchez with the No. 8 overall pick.

Interesting, right?

But if Sanchez is available at No. 8 and is the best available on the board, the Jags - based on their rededication to a best-player-available-approach under GM Gene Smith - might want to take him, regardless of David Garrard’s current contract situation. Besides, the Jags could wind up making some sort of draft-day deal to gobble up extra picks with a team in need of a QB.

Sanchez, a junior, is considered the second-best QB in the draft behind Georgia’s Matt Stafford. Although Sanchez was given a second-round grade by the NFL draft advisory board, his stock rose because several of the talented underclassmen elected to stay in school.

Later in the conference call, Mayock predicted the top three picks will be Stafford (Detroit), Baylor T Jason Smith (St. Louis) and Wake Forest LB Aaron Curry (Kansas City).
All these crazy projections (some are actually interesting) just let me know vacation is over. Looks like it’s time to get back to work.