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NEW YORK — The Denver Broncos have selected Knowshon Moreno, running back from Georgia, with the 12th pick in the first round of today's NFL draft.

Meanwhile, the New York Jets have selected quarterback Mark Sanchez with the fifth pick of the NFL draft after trading with the Cleveland Browns.

The former USC star with the powerful arm gives the Jets a franchise quarterback after Brett Favre came out of retirement for one season.

The pick was the first for new coach Rex Ryan, who will have Sanchez compete with Kellen Clemens for the starting job. Sanchez threw for 3,965 yards and 41 touchdowns in 16 starts with the Trojans, but the Jets were confident in selecting him despite his lack of experience.

The Jets acquired the pick from Cleveland and former coach Eric Mangini for their first-round pick, No. 17 overall, their second-round pick this year, and defensive end Kenyon Coleman, safety Abram Elam and quarterback Brett Ratliff.

Meanwhile, one of the biggest rebuilding jobs in NFL history has its centerpiece.

Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford was drafted first overall Saturday by the Detroit Lions, the only team to ever go 0-16 in a season.

The junior signed a six-year deal with $41.7 million in guarantees and a maximum value of $78 million, even though he is not expected to start immediately as a rookie.

"I put a lot of pressure on myself to be great anyway," Stafford said.

The Lions, whose poor draft history this decade under Matt Millen eventually led to the winless season, have veteran Daunte Culpepper as the projected starter this year under new coach Jim Schwartz. That should give the 21-year-old Stafford a chance to watch and learn.

Still, the pick was greeted with loud boos and chants of "OVERRATED" from the fans at Radio City Music Hall.

Stafford stepped outside of a restaurant where he was with about 20 people, including his parents, to talk to agent Tom Condon, who had just completed negotiations with the Lions.

"I went back in and gave everybody the thumbs up," Stafford said.

Then Stafford picked up the check.

Nine of the last 12 top overall picks have been quarterbacks.

They have included the likes of Peyton and Eli Manning. And Tim Couch, David Carr and Alex Smith.

Baylor offensive tackle Jason Smith was the second pick, by the St. Louis Rams. The 6-foot-4, 306-pound former tight end should be used to playing for a weak team: Baylor was 18-31 in his four years there.

Kansas City, like St. Louis, used nearly all 10 of its minutes seeking a trade before selecting LSU defensive end Tyson Jackson.

He will join college teammate Glenn Dorsey on the Chiefs' defensive line.

Wake Forest linebacker Aaron Curry, who had spoken with Detroit about being the top overall pick, landed in Seattle at No. 4. Curry is considered capable of playing inside or outside in the pros.

Following the Jets' pick, the Oakland Raiders took wider receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey, the Jacksonville Jaguars took offensive tackle Eugene Monroe, the Green Bay Packers took defensive tackle B.J. Raji, the San Francisco 49ers took wide receiver Michael Crabtree and the Buffalo Bills took defensive end Aaron Maybin.

LINK >> Broncos take RB Moreno - The Denver Post

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