In an occasional feature, we briefly highlight any of the lesser-known players that make an unexpected impact during camp, preseason or the regular season.
Today, we focus on cornerback Azareye’h Thomas:
What he did:
The rookie cornerback will need to compete to get on the field this season, but seems to be holding his own, as he’s made multiple plays, including this impressive interception:
AZ makin’ it look EZ pic.twitter.com/zsVQDH9gNC
— New York Jets (@nyjets) July 26, 2025
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There have been encouraging signs about his ability to hang with NFL-level talent right from the jump as his career gets underway:
AZ Thomas stuck with Xavier Gipson on a pass the whole way. Had good coverage.
Impressive considering it’s Thomas’ speed that may be his biggest question mark.#Jets
— Nick Faria (@Nick_Faria1720) July 25, 2025
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Outlook:
The 21-year old Thomas was drafted in the third round but looks set to ride the bench for most of his rookie season, barring injuries, because he’s behind Sauce Gardner and Brandon Stephens. There was some hope that he might push Stephens, although head coach Aaron Glenn has praised how well Stephens has performed in camp so far.
Thomas’ most impressive trait is probably his size and length, but he dropped in the draft after only running a 4.58 in the 40-yard dash. However, his film and college numbers suggest he could thrive in the right kind of system. With the Jets having targeted him on day two, they clearly feel like he’s a scheme fit.
Thomas is definitely going to make the final roster, barring an injury, but his spot in the rotation is not secure enough to see him rested in preseason, so we should see him in action in August. He has a bright future ahead of him but if the Jets remain healthy in the secondary, we may not see him that much in 2025. However, if he keeps making plays in camp, his chances of getting on the field more regularly will improve dramatically, especially if he then thrives in preseason.
More on Thomas:
Here’s our in-depth scouting report on Thomas.