Jets Sign Mark Sanchez to Rich Rookie Deal

Just like when we all sat back in satisfaction when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed Kellen Winslow to his giant contract, we should all take a moment and sigh in relief as the Jets sign Mark Sanchez.  The Jets seem to have come to terms with the draft pick that they got from Cleveland on draft day.  Mark Sanchez’ deal is for five years and potentially as much as $60 million.  The real number to look at is the guaranteed $28 million.  That is $5.6 million per year in guaranteed dollars.  That is about a 27% raise over the #5 pick in last year’s draft, Glenn Dorsey who received $4.4 million per year in guaranteed dollars.

This is not to say that Mark Sanchez won’t earn every one of those dollars and then some.  He very well might.  He could be the next Carson Palmer out of USC and be really successful.  The point is that he better be for the Jets’ sake.  The risk of taking a guy to lead your team that high is that whether he turns out to be that guy or not, he is going to get paid regardless.  Not to mention the fact that the tendency is to build around the quarterback.  You would hate to be building a team for a captain who might never be capable of taking it over.

That was a long-winded way of saying that I am still very happy that the Browns found a way to trade down to take Alex Mack.  Even if Alex Mack fails to become the starting center that the Browns hope he will become, he was drafted at #21, so the risk is so much lower.  Last year’s 21st pick was offensive tackle Sam Baker and his deal was for $1.6 million per season guaranteed.  Even if Mack ends up getting the same 27% premium year-over-year that Sanchez got in the #5 slot, Mack will still only be making just north of $2 million per season guaranteed.  I know that is a lot of money to you and me, but it is a very reasonable salary number for a starting center in the NFL.

One final note.  Even if Sanchez bombs as a QB for the Jets there is one sure winner in this whole deal.  Ohio State’s own Nick Mangold is going to be Sanchez’ center if and when he starts games for the Jets.  Via Mangold’s twitter, he reports his good fortune.

Great news, @Mark_Sanchez since signing his deal has offered to buy me a car. Be sure to thank him for me. Haha

Let’s hope for Mangold’s sake it isn’t a Kia.