Rams Love Mark Sanchez, Too; Now All 32 Teams Want USC QB

In the weeks leading up to the Biggest Weekend of the NFL Offseason, I've wondered why the Rams haven't shown more interest in quarterbacks Matthew Stafford or Mark Sanchez. St. Louis has the second overall pick, managed just five wins in two seasons, and Marc Bulger looks like he's had enough.

Bulger's perceived disposition is a familiar one; quarterbacks who play behind an offensive line in name only often exhibit some combination of apprehension and apathy after years of physical abuse (Jon Kitna, David Carr, and Joey Harrington also come to mind). Of course, that's a solid argument for why the Rams should take Jason Smith or Eugene Monroe -- offensive tackles who could start immediately.

But as you've no doubt been bludgeoned about the head, the days and hours leading up to the draft are as much about a team misrepresenting its true intentions as it is about last-minute scouting and re-shuffling of the draft board. With that in mind, the "news" that St. Louis is a late entrant in the Sanchez Sweepstakes isn't all that surprising.

As the Detroit Lions continue to zero in on Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford, there is a growing belief in league circles that the Rams - who already have quarterback Marc Bulger - are taking a serious look at the former Trojan standout. ...

This is the season of rampant speculation ... That said, the conjecture is the Rams could take Sanchez second and A) allow him to learn behind Bulger for a season, B) trade Bulger to a quarterback-needy team, or C) trade Sanchez after selecting him.

I believe that all 32 teams have now expressed interest in drafting Mark Sanchez. Should make for a fun Saturday.

For the Rams, an offensive tackles or Aaron Curry are the safe picks, but the club went the safe-pick route the last two years. Chris Long and Adam Carriker are nice players, but neither suddenly made the Rams a playoff team. Or even a middling NFL franchise, for that matter.

(I know: the defensive line had very little to do with St. Louis' recent struggles. Fair enough, but somebody like Matt Ryan or Dwayne Bowe might have made an instant impact. They would've been riskier selections, but that's my point.)

Smokescreens aside, maybe Sanchez makes the most sense. Unless the Redskins offer to trade up to the No. 2 slot to take him first. And there's a decent chance that happens.