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The Jets’ 2013 free agency needs are plenty — their funds, however, are not. That is going to make the Jets bargain hunters when free agency begins Tuesday.
The story around the Jets will be more about who is leaving than who they’re picking up. They have 10 starters from last year’s team scheduled to become unrestricted free agents, along with another who will be a restricted free agent. Most of them are sure to depart as new general manager John Idzik maneuvers his way around a difficult salary-cap situation.
The Jets are about $8 million under the cap, but they will need around $6 million of that for next month’s draft, leaving a small pool for free agency.
At his introductory press conference in January, Idzik sounded like a man who knew the 2013 Jets would be built mainly through draft picks, not free-agency dollars.
“The draft will be very important to us,” he said then. “That will be a lifeline for us, year in and year out. We will use free agency. Again, we will be very thoughtful, do our research and be judicious in free agency.”
The Jets first must decide if they can afford to bring back any of their own free agents. A source said the team has prioritized re-signing defensive end Mike DeVito, who may be affordable. They would like to bring back safety LaRon Landry, but he is going to find more money elsewhere after a Pro Bowl 2012 season. Tight end Dustin Keller, guard Brandon Moore and guard Matt Slauson could be goners. The Jets have expressed interest in bringing back wide receiver Braylon Edwards, but re-signing him won’t be pressing, as he does not figure to sign early in the free-agency period with anyone.
As far as other teams’ free agents, it all starts with quarterback for the Jets. Idzik repeatedly has mentioned bringing in competition for four-year starter Mark Sanchez. The Jets are expected to add one or two cheap veteran free agent quarterbacks in the coming weeks. David Garrard could be one of them, and he could sign before Tuesday because he was not on a team last season. They also have been linked to the Chiefs’ Brady Quinn, who will hit free agency Tuesday.
A couple of other quarterbacks to keep an eye on are Jason Campbell and Chase Daniel.
The other positions of need are: running back, tight end, offensive line, outside linebacker and safety. Their current depth chart is extremely thin at outside linebacker and safety. Linebacker Josh Mauga, a restricted free agent, is returning to the team, according to his agent. Mauga missed most of last season with a torn pectoral.
There is a decent market for safeties in free agency, so the Jets could try to add someone there.
But don’t expect Idzik and coach Rex Ryan to be on anyone’s doorstep at 4 p.m. Tuesday when players can start to sign. This year, the Jets will be shopping in the bargain bin.
brian.costello@nypost.com
PRIORITY POSITIONS
QUARTERBACK
The Jets want to bring in competition for Mark Sanchez here. They seem to be more inclined to attack this position in free agency than the draft. They already talked to David Garrard and could sign him soon. If the price is right, they could sign two players at this position.
SAFETY
Both LaRon Landry and Yeremiah Bell, last year’s starters, are unrestricted free agents. They even released their third safety, Eric Smith, during their salary cap purge last month. They have to address this position, though they probably will wait for the second wave of free agency when the prices go down.
GUARD
Another position where both starters — Brandon Moore and Matt Slauson — are about to hit the open market. Vlad Ducasse could win one of the guard spots, but they need a veteran at the other spot if they let both Moore and Slauson walk.