After going offense with their first two picks of the 2025 NFL Draft, the Jets finally addressed the defensive side of the ball in Round 3.
Gang Green selected Florida State cornerback Azareye’h Thomas at No. 73 overall.
With their first two selections, the Jets drafted right tackle Armand Membou and tight end Mason Taylor. Despite having needs at wide receiver and defensive tackle, Jets coach head Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey decided to address the secondary.
At 6-2, 200 pounds, Thomas has a good combination of size and length. He knows how to track the ball in the air, and his physicality allows him to knock receivers out of their routes. Thomas also knows how to break up passes before and after they reach receivers.
During his three seasons at Florida State, Thomas started as a rotational player and went on to become one of the Seminoles’ best defensive players.
Last season, during the Seminoles’ 2-10 season, he started all 12 games at cornerback. Thomas was second on the team with 52 tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss. He also added four pass breakups and an interception. Thomas was named All-ACC Honorable Mention.
According to Pro Football Focus, in the 2024 season, Thomas had a 77.9 coverage grade, which was the lowest target rate, 9.6%, higher than that of 2024 Heisman winner Travis Hunter.
In three seasons for the Seminoles, the Niceville, Fla. native finished with 95 tackles, nine tackles for loss, and two interceptions. The Jets addressed the cornerback spot opposite Sauce Gardner in free agency after they signed Brandon Stephens to a three-year, $36 million deal with $10 million guaranteed.
Thomas will see a few familiar faces when he gets to the Jets’ facility. He played with Jordan Travis, who the Jets selected in last year’s draft. Thomas has also gotten close to pass rusher Jermaine Johnson, who regularly visits the Florida State campus after he was drafted in the first round by the Jets in 2022.
Thomas will join a Jets secondary with Gardner, Stephens, and Michael Carter II.
