Rex Ryan Sticking with Mark Sanchez as New York Jets Starter

Geno Smith’s selection by the New York Jets shook things up when it comes to Mark Sanchez’s future with the team — or so we thought. Logically, the drafting of Smith means that Sanchez is now expendable, but head coach Rex Ryan has other plans, at least for the immediate future. According to the NFL Network, Rex Ryan said that Mark Sanchez will continue to get first team reps in the Jets OTA’s this summer.

"After selecting West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith with the No. 39 overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, New York Jets coach Rex Ryan told NFL Network on Saturday that embattled incumbent Mark Sanchez will take the first snap when the second phase of the Jets’ offseason program begins Monday."

So it sounds like Mark Sanchez will continue to be the starter — for now.

Obviously, this is just temporary. Mark Sanchez will compete with not only Geno Smith for the starting job but also David Garrard and Greg McElroy as well. Tim Tebow is with the team, but it’s largely believed that the Jets will cut Tebow once they realize they won’t be able to hold teams hostage with Tebow the way they did the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with Darrelle Revis.

Rex Ryan has a stake in Sanchez’s success, as it’s long been noted that Ryan’s fate it tethered to that of Sanchez’s. But the quarterback may stick around a bit longer than Tebow does due to the fact he’s owed over $8 million in contract guarantees, however that in no way secures Sanchez’s future in New York. Smith likely won’t win the starting job right away and is probably better off being mentored for a year, but if Ryan stick with Sanchez longer than he should, like he did last season, we could see both of them go in quick succession of one another.