Cesar Tordesillas

New York Jets coach Rex Ryan has reiterated that there will be competition for the starting quarterback job despite designating Mark Sanchez for the spot in the team's offseason program.

"The first snap, he'll be the guy running out there first," Ryan said Tuesday, referring to Sanchez, during the NFL owners meetings.

"But there's going to be competition at that spot, there's no question about it. We need to get better at the quarterback position," he added.

Ryan said that last year's backup Tim Tebow would also be given a chance to compete for the starting job.

"He's on the roster, and he'll get a chance to compete," Ryan said. "We'll see how the offseason plays out, but right now Tim is on our roster."

However, a source said Ryan's statement has not changed Tebow's status on the team. The Jets are still hoping that they could trade Tebow but are in no rush to do so.

"They could stretch the process out to the draft, but failing a trade, the Jets will release him," a source told ESPN.com.

The Jets recently signed veteran David Garrard to provide competition for Sanchez, who was the unchallenged starter at the position for his first three years in the league.

However, Sanchez's 2012 struggles led to the temporary elevation of Greg McElroy to the spot and put doubt on his capacity to lead the team.

Ryan believes that Garrard could compete for the starting job despite not playing in the NFL in two years.

"We wouldn't have brought in David if we didn't think he could provide competition," Ryan said. "Now, he hasn't played in two years, and we recognize that. But the main thing is, when we go through the process, that we feel good about what comes out of it."

That could mean Garrard as a replacement for Sanchez or as a kick in the tail to prompt Sanchez to show improvement in the face of the first serious challenge to his job security as an NFL quarterback.

Ryan also said that adding Kevin Kolb to the quarterback mix has not yet been seriously discussed by the team.

"If we feel that would help the competition, then that's something we would look into," Ryan said.

Rex Ryan: There Will Be Competition for Jets Starting QB Job - NFL 2013