NFL

Like it or not, Sanchez is the best man to start for Jets this season

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“I’m the luckiest guy in the world.”

Those words came from Mark Sanchez yesterday during a 20-minute interview session — his first public words since the Jets selected West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith in the second round of the NFL Draft last week.

Asked if he expects to be the opening-day starter, Sanchez, with no hesitation, said: “Of course.’’

Asked if he still views himself as the future of the franchise, Sanchez responded: “Absolutely.’’

If you’re thinking that Sanchez sounds like a guy whistling past a graveyard after midnight, you are not alone.

If you are thinking there should have been a #delusional hashtag at the end of those Sanchez statements, you are not alone.

But here’s some sobering news, Jets fans (look away Sanchez haters and detractors, because you’re not going to like this): The Jets’ starting quarterback in 2013 will be Sanchez.

The Jets’ best chance to win however many games they might win in 2013 with their depleted depth chart will be with Sanchez at quarterback.

Not Smith, who is raw and will be best-served to watch and learn for a year.

Not David Garrard, who is 35 years old and hasn’t played an NFL game since 2010.

Not Greg McElroy, who’s a smart kid but does not have the arm or durability to be a legitimate NFL starter.

Not Matt Simms, who appears to be nothing more than a training camp arm — if he lasts that long.

If that five-man quarterback competition that general manager John Idzik has been promoting like a realtor trying to sell a quiet three-bedroom colonial alongside the Jersey Turnpike is completely objective, then Sanchez will be the starter when the season begins.

Idzik might have had the last say in the draft, but coach Rex Ryan will have the final say on who plays and who doesn’t by the end of training camp.

And Ryan, who is coaching for his job this year, has one charge in 2013 and that is to win games and preserve his head coaching career. So he’s going to pick the starting quarterback who will best help him win games now — not develop someone for the future.

The future for Ryan and Sanchez is now, 2013.

“I think I’ve seen pretty much everything,’’ Sanchez said of the numerous potholes in his career, merely in its fifth year.

The one thing Sanchez, a starter in each of his four NFL seasons, has not yet seen is life as a backup, which will be his fate if he doesn’t show major improvement in 2013 from the last two seasons — a chore that begins with protecting the football.

Sanchez insisted time and again yesterday that he was not rattled, disappointed or ticked off when the Jets drafted Smith.

“They’re going to try to get this team better, bring in the best talent available on the [draft] board and do their job the best they can,’’ Sanchez said. “For them, the draft is a third-and-5 and they’re trying to convert. When it’s my turn to convert the third-and-5, I’ll do that.’’

A good analogy by Sanchez, but it’s a bit Pollyanna for him to think it’s merely third-and-5 for him. It’s more like fourth-and-17 with his career as an NFL starter hanging in the balance.

“Is it a make-or-break kind of thing?’’ Sanchez said. “I feel like it’s that way every year.’’

Sanchez knows exactly how Jets fans feel about him and he knows he’s fighting for his career now, but he refuses to allow himself to become overwhelmed by looking too hard at the big picture.

“Why worry about that?’’ he said. “There’s not enough hours in a day to worry about what fans and media are saying — if this is my last chance. It’s too much. I’ve got to just focus on the reads, the footwork, let your play take care of itself and have fun doing that.

“I’m the luckiest guy in the world.’’