Mark Sanchez, a four year junior, declared for the 2009 NFL Draft yesterday. He and Georgia’s Matt Strafford are considered the top two QBS with Oklahoma’s Heisman winner  Sam Bradford opting to return to Norman. USC finished 12-1 and number two in the college poll. The 6′3″ 225 pound QB had an outstanding Rose Bowl, completing 28-of -35 passes for 413 yards and 4 TDs.  The Trojans easily won the game 38-24 victory over No. 6 Penn State. He became just the third QB in Rose Bowl history to throw for more than 400 yards.

Sanchez finished the season throwing for 3,207 passing yards and 34 touchdown passes. The Jets should select him if he is available at pick 17.  If QB Brett Farve decides to retire it leaves the team with Kellen Clemens, who had just five throwing attempts last season, and Brett Ratliff, who outplayed Clemens during the preseason. In 99 days when Sanchez is selected in the first round USC will have the most Quarterbacks picked in the first round this decade (Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart). Sanchez is also the fourth QB to play under Carroll in the NFL, joining Palmer, Leinart, and John David Booty.

With his stock sky rocketing after his Rose Bowl performance, the 22 year-old QB could be selected by the 49ers (10th pick) or Bills (11th) who each pick before the Jets. USC Head coach Pete Carroll criticized the 22-year-olds decision to leave school early which could cause him to slip.  Mock Drafts have Strafford going number one overall to the Lions. However, Sanchez threw nine more TDs and had a better completion percentage and QB rating.

He would inherit a team that scored 25.3 points a game which was ninth in the NFL. RB Thomas Jones led the AFC in rushing yards and was second with 13 rushing TDs. WR Jerricho Cotchery has averaged 78 catches for 983 yards the past three seasons. Rookie TE Dustin Keller finished in the top 15 in receptions, yards, and TDs.

There has to be a change at QB because of how the season ended, as the Jets lost four out of their final five games. In that span Brett Favre threw just two touchdown passes compared to nine interceptions. His QB rating was under 64 in each game and was sacked nine times. Favre led the league with 22 interceptions and was 22nd in yards per completion. If Sanchez is not on the board, the Jets should lean towards receivers Jeremy Maclin (Missouri) or Percy Harvin (Florida).