NFL

Jets GM Idzik can’t afford to ‘reach’ for quarterback at NFL Draft

John Idzik can’t afford a buttfumble tomorrow night.

The new Jets general manager has to ace his first NFL Draft in charge. He needs to find players ready to walk in the door and start immediately. The Jets roster is one of the worst in the NFL with more holes than a bad alibi.

This is why Idzik cannot draft a quarterback tomorrow night. None of the quarterbacks in this draft are a sure thing. None are guys who look like Day 1 starters and franchise changers.

Idzik needs to go the conservative route with the team’s two first round picks. Take one of the guards — Chance Warmack or Jonathan Cooper — with the No. 9 pick and then take tight end Tyler Eifert with the No. 13 pick. These players are as close as you get to sure things. There are no red flags with these guys and little downside.

That won’t be sexy. It won’t land them the back page. It won’t be a conversation changer like drafting a quarterback would be. But the Jets hired Idzik in January because of his deliberate style. Idzik’s predecessor, Mike Tannenbaum, was more of a gambler and a risk taker.

Tannenbaum hit on some of those gambles and others blew up in his face (see Tebow, Tim).

A league source said drafting any of this year’s quarterbacks in the top 15 would be a “reach.”

This is not the time for the Jets to reach. They need to rebuild this depleted roster. Guard, tight end, outside linebacker, wide receiver and safety are all bigger needs than quarterback for the Jets.

Now, I always was taught to respect my elders, but Mr. Serby is showing his head might still have lingering effects from Richard Todd chucking him into a locker 30 years ago. If the Jets trade down, they can get a top safety or a good outside linebacker. Drafting E.J. Manuel makes no sense. Manuel comes with a ton of questions marks from his durability to his ability to run a pro offense.

Then, there is the Rex Ryan factor. There is a strong possibility that Ryan won’t be the head coach of the Jets at this time next year. Wouldn’t it make more sense to wait until 2014 to draft a franchise quarterback when you have more long-term certainty at head coach? By next year, you either will have a new head coach or Ryan will have received an extension. The Jets appear destined for a top 5 pick in 2014 and that draft likely will include Louisville’s Teddy Bridgewater and Texas A&M’s Johnny Manziel, two prospects more intriguing than any in this year’s draft.

The Jets can live with Mark Sanchez or David Garrard at quarterback this year. Idzik needs to put some players around whoever the quarterback is and then worry about finding his long-term answer at the position next year.

It is clear the 2013 Jets are going to suffer plenty of losses. They just can’t start tomorrow night.

brian.costello@nypost.com