Mark Sanchez Doesn't Mind if Good Buddy Stafford Gets Picked First

NEW YORK -- Having aced out his friend for a video game cover, Mark Sanchez said Thursday night that it's fine by him if Matthew Stafford gets picked before him in this weekend's NFL draft. Sanchez has come to grips with the idea that he'll almost certainly be the second quarterback taken.

"It sounds like Stafford's got a deal worked out with Detroit, and that's fine," Sanchez said in an interview during the premiere party for EA Sports' NCAA Football 10 game. "It's going to be great for him and I'm happy for him. He's a good friend of mine."

Sanchez, who will grace the cover of the PSP edition of the game, said he and Stafford became friends when both served as counselors at the 2008 "Elite 11" quarterback camp in Orange County, Calif. In recent weeks, he said, they've talked every day to compare notes about the insane pre-draft process.

"It's just so much fun to go through this process with someone you're close with," Sanchez said. "And especially someone who's going through the exact same stuff. I mean, we're both quarterbacks. It'd be one thing if he were a linebacker going through the draft process. But we've talked to the exact same teams, heard the exact same questions, had the exact same things said about us. So to get together and talk about it, that's fun."

Unlike his buddy Stafford, who skipped the EA party and seems destined for Detroit, Sanchez says he has no idea which team will take him Saturday. There's been a lot of talk lately about him going to the Seahawks at No. 4, or even of some other team (Washington? Denver? The Jets?) trading up to take him at No. 3. Regardless, he's just looking forward to finally finding out and seeing where he has to go next week for minicamp.

"This is a starting point. You know you're just starting out. You haven't arrived," Sanchez said. "This has been a great time in my life, and I feel pretty fortunate to have gone through this experience."

For example, he got a huge kick out of seeing his picture on the cover of a video game.

"Really flattering," he said. "I remember seeing (former USC QB) Carson Palmer on the cover in '02, and a few years later, I'm on the same cover."

In the same uniform, no less.

"That's right," Sanchez said. "SC pride."

That should be on display plenty on Saturday, as Sanchez well knows. Asked who he'd take if he had the No. 1 overall pick in this year's draft, Sanchez said he'd have to collect the top three overall picks and take USC linebackers Rey Maualuga, Brian Cushing and Clay Matthews in some order. All three are expected to go in the first round.

"Absolutely unbelievable, watching those guys this year," Sanchez said. "What they've done together is incredible."

Sanchez is headed back home to California on Friday night and will watch the draft on TV with his family. And the next time he sees Stafford on a football field, they'll be done comparing notes, and they'll be trying to beat each other.

NCAA Football 10 Photos

Texas Tech wide receiver Michael Crabtree hauls in a long reception. Crabtree is the cover athlete for the Xbox 360 version of NCAA Football 10 from EA Sports. Click through to see more photos from gameplay.

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Texas Tech wide receiver Michael Crabtree burns past the Longhorns' defense. Crabtree is the cover athlete for the Xbox 360 version of NCAA Football 10 from EA Sports.

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USC quarterback Brian Sanchez looks for an open receiver. Sanchez is the cover athlete for the PSP version of NCAA Football 10 from EA Sports.

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USC quarterback Brian Sanchez scrambles out of the pocket. Sanchez is the cover athlete for the PSP version of NCAA Football 10 from EA Sports.

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Texas defensive end Brian Orakpo gets set to rush the quarterback. Orakpo is the cover athlete for the PS2 version of NCAA Football 10 from EA Sports.

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Texas defensive end Brian Orakpo pummels the quarterback. Orakpo is the cover athlete for the PS2 version of NCAA Football 10 from EA Sports.

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Utah quarterback Brian Johnson lines up behind the line of scrimmage. Johnson is the cover athlete for the PS3 version of NCAA Football 10 from EA Sports.

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Utah quarterback Brian Johnson makes a pass attempt against TCU. Johnson is the cover athlete for the PS3 version of NCAA Football 10 from EA Sports.

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