So what should the Seahawks do with the fourth pick? Aside from sprinklings of the Mariner’s strong start, this question has dominated sports talk in Seattle lately. So I’ll take my stab at it.

What should the team do with the NFL’s yearly blessing (or curse depending on your salary cap situation) for mediocrity?

Glad you asked…

Mark Sanchez?

There are a couple of big issues with taking the USC QB. First, we can assume Sanchez would get a similar contract to last season’s fourth pick, Darren McFadden. That’s six years, $60 million ($26 million guaranteed) for a player that the team wouldn’t plan to have play for two years.

I simply can’t justify putting that much money out for a guy who will sit and learn behind Matt Hasselbeck.

Second, investing in underclassmen quarterbacks is a risky business. As Adam Schefter points out only five underclassmen quarterbacks, out of 15, drafted in the first round have gone on to make a Pro Bowl. That’s not an especially promising rate of success.

Even looking at those five QB’s that made the Pro Bowl, Vince Young and Michael Vick haven’t turned out to be sustained stars. Young is backing up Kerry Collins and Vick is coming off well-documented legal issues.

I don’t think it’s a smart pick here, not with a good starting QB in place and a team that thinks it can win this season.

Aaron Curry?

If Curry makes to the fourth pick the Seahawks should jump on it. Scouts have been drooling over Curry’s potential for quite some time. Teams have been drooling over Curry’s personality and lack of red flags.

He can run (4.56 in the 40-yard dash), he’s strong (25 reps of 225 pounds) and he’s performed at a high level before (2008 Dick Butkus Award winner).

Curry would fit right in where Julian Peterson left a void, at outside linebacker. Depending on how he performs, he could also give the team flexibility in deciding on whether or not to re-sign franchise player Leroy Hill after this season.

The problem is that Curry isn’t expected to make it past the Kansas City Chiefs at the third pick.

Michael Crabtree?

This is where the money pick is. Crabtree has long been hailed as the best player in this draft. Some were worried about his foot injury, but he played through it last season at Texas Tech and had success (1,165 yards and 19 touchdowns).

Many will say that after the signing of T.J. Houshmandzadeh, it’s not necessary to draft another wide receiver. I disagree. While Houshmandzadeh is a great possession guy, he’s never been a number one. Perhaps more importantly, he will turn 32 at early in the 2009 season.

The team’s other options include Deion Brach and Nate Burleson. Brach has a Super Bowl MVP on his resume, but overall he must be a bust since the Seahawks traded a first round pick for him. He’s averaged just under 600 yards a season in three years and has yet to top four touchdowns in a season. He’s a good supporting member, but he’s not the lead. The same can be said for Burleson.

Draft history is littered with busts from teams selected to a need rather than simply the best player available. Hopefully the Seahawks don’t fall into that same pattern.

For me Crabtree is easily the right pick.

Other options

Seattle could also avoid the big question completely and trade the pick away for lower picks. Teams like the Washington Redskins seem very interested in Sanchez and might be willing to move up to ensure they get him.

This is a good option that would allow the Seahawks to fill multiple needs with less guaranteed money going out the door.

All they need to do is find a willing trade partner.

The Seahawks could also go with an offensive lineman at number four. But that doesn’t make a ton of sense because they have a starting left tackle for this season and a full docket of big guys at the other line position. But building good depth is always a smart idea, so don’t be shocked to see a lineman picked.