Former Bucs QB Trent Dilfer says the Bucs top priority should be to draft quarterback Mark Sanchez and suggests the Bucs trade up significantly to get him

Listening to Trent Dilfer on ESPN 1040 AM yesterday, you couldn’t help but wonder if he is somehow getting a percentage of former USC quarterback Mark Sanchez’s future NFL signing bonus.

Dilfer, now a studio analyst for ESPN, was so adamant that Sanchez is “the best pro in this draft” and the Bucs should do whatever necessary to draft him.

“I really believe this is the opportunity the Bucs have and move up and get a quarterback,” Dilfer said. “Mark Sanchez is the best pro in this draft. When the only bad thing you can say about somebody is that they’d only started 16 games, that’s pretty good. …The more film I watch, … the better he looks each time. …For the Bucs he’s a QB for 8 or 10 years and take them to a couple of Super Bowls.
 
He’s a far superior player to Matt Leinart at this point in his career. … [Sanchez’s] receivers at USC were not very good, undisciplined in route running. He had inxperienced linemen. …He carried the offense. …. He’s better than Carson Palmer, as well. …Mark Sanchez is a leader among leaders, a special individual who embraces the challenges in front of him. …
 
He does have a strong arm. He doesn’t have a [Matt] Stafford arm. …Study the film hard enough and you see a combination of quick release and strong arm. … His style makes it very hard for secondary players to break on the football. … He’s got great pocket maneuvering. … a remarkable ability to play the position the way it needs to be played in the NFL.”

Dilfer went on to say Joe Flacco and Matt Ryan are not as as talented as Mark Sanchez. And Dilfer makes the claim citing his “hours of deep film study on what translates to the NFL game.”

“Personnel people around the NFL are now digging into the film and more are falling in love with him, as well,” Dilfer said. “I really believe the Bucs need to do whatever it takes to get to the [No. 3 pick], or No. 4, 5 or 6 to get up there. … I’m confident in the Glazers having the money.”

Asked if the Bucs should make the trade for Jay Cutler, Dilfer said he believes that would be a good move for the Bucs but thinks Sanchez will be a better pro than Cutler.

“Denver might trade if it leads ultimately them to get Sanchez,” Dilfer said.

Dilfer went on to say the Bucs are in “a major rebuilding process.”