After a busy first couple months of the offseason that included hiring a new coaching staff and front office as well replacing four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers with former first-round pick Justin Fields, the New York Jets entered the 2025 NFL draft with a slew of picks to use how they saw fit.
They ended up making a couple of trades throughout the seven rounds and ended up with seven new players that they hope will improve their roster and give them better chances of making the postseason and making a run in the near future.
While each of these draft picks has the potential to turn into an impact player or better in the NFL, one of the mid-round selections is already being viewed as a steal.
In fact, ESPN’s Matt Miller chose New York’s selection of Florida State cornerback Azareye’h Thomas the best value pick of the third round.
“Thomas was ranked No. 47 on my board but struggled in athletic testing in the predraft process,” Miller wrote. “While it’s not surprising that his stock dropped, he can win at the line of scrimmage and is an elite competitor in press coverage.”
Thomas, 20, was a two-way player and a four-star recruit at Niceville High School in Niceville, Florida, before committing to play for the Seminoles.
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In three collegiate seasons, Thomas appeared in 37 games, recording 95 tackles (nine for a loss), 15 passes defensed, two interceptions, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
With the Jets losing cornerbacks D.J. Reed and Brandin Echols to the Detroit Lions and Pittsburgh Steelers, respectively, they were clearly looking for more help after signing Brandon Stephens and Kris Boyd in free agency.
Thomas will probably start of his rookie campaign as a backup behind Stephens, Sauce Gardner and Michael Carter II, but with his versatility to play both boundary cornerback and in the slot, there’s a chance that he takes on a more significant role in Steve Wilks’ defense later in the year or in his second season.
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