With QBs, it always remains to be seen whether they can make the big leap to the NFL. Playing QB in the NFL may be the mentally toughest thing to do in sports.
Having said all that, I would not be so critical of the Jets drafting Sanchez. The guy is definitely a very good college QB. Playing against the USC defense in practice every day may be the toughest challenge that he faced in college football. He also played in some big time games.
He also is not a glitz and glamour guy as you suggest. His father is a fireman (which will sit well with fireman Ed). He definitely comes from a hard working family. You should have seen the house his grandmother lives in (they showed him visiting her in one segment I saw on him) -- definitely not Beverly Hills 90120.
I am not particularly happy that the Jets got him. I was hoping that he would land somewhere outside of the AFC East.