2025 NFL Draft prospect profile – Azareye’h Thomas, CB, Florida State

Is Thomas a sleeper at the cornerback position?

The cornerback position isn’t held to be one of the more talented ones in the 2025 NFL Draft class. That’s largely due to several of the top prospects missing time due to injury, yet there are quite a few potential starters flying below the radar.

Cornerback Azareye’h Thomas out of Florida State has been a steady riser throughout the process. He took advantage of his opportunity at the Reese’s Senior Bowl, forcing scouts to go back to the FSU tape, and they’ve liked what they’ve seen.

Thomas’ evaluation could vary widely based on the team viewing him, but that could make him a tremendous value if he starts to slide into Day 2.

The New York Giants might not need another corner after free agency, but could the value be too good to pass up?

Prospect: Azareye’h Thomas (8)
Games Watched: vs. Boston College (2024), vs. California (2024), vs. Miami (2024), vs. Florida (2024)

Measurables

Kent Lee Platte | RAS.football

Strengths

Best traits

• Fluidity
• Man coverage
• Length
• Physicality Tackling

Azareye’h Thomas is a long, physical, and fluid cornerback prospect.

He has great size for the position at 6-foot 1 ½ inches, 197 pounds, and with 32 ⅜ inch arms. His length and size allows him to be very physical throughout his game in coverage and in run defense. Thomas is able to be disruptive at the beginning of the play with a tough jam, physicality at the top of the route, and the ability to take on blockers and take down ball carriers.

Thomas also has remarkably quick feet and fluid hips for a bigger cornerback. He has very efficient movement skills and doesn’t waste movement or energy. He’s able to get in phase with receivers and stay with them throughout their routes. He typically does a good job of jamming receivers and disrupting their routes early in their routes, and does so without drawing pass interference.

He’s a good and reliable tackler who uses his length and strength well when taking on blockers and his movement skills to knife to the ball carrier. Once there, Thomas is a wrap-up tackler who’s able to get the ball carrier on the ground.

Thomas has great recognition and diagnoses the offensive play quickly and well. He’s a disciplined defender who’s able to stay with his receiver without getting caught in schemed traffic. Likewise, he does a very good job of picking up and passing off receivers in zone coverage.

Weaknesses

Worst traits

• Speed and explosiveness
• Interceptions

Thomas’ greatest weakness is in his overall speed and explosiveness.

It’s difficult to say that Thomas is a poor athlete, as he moves exceptionally well, particularly for a bigger cornerback. However, he isn’t a particularly rangy defender and that can show up in certain situations. For instance, he can struggle to stay with speedier receivers down the field in off coverage or if his jam fails to disrupt their routes.

Likewise, Thomas can be a bit slow to arrive when triggering downhill from zone coverage. His length and physicality can still allow him to be disruptive, but he doesn’t have the ability to slam receiving windows shut or make a play on the ball after baiting a pass.

Finally, Thomas doesn’t seem to have great ball skills. While his drop in passes defensed from 10 in 2023 to four in 2024 could be attributed to offenses avoiding him, He only has one interception in his three year career.

Game Tape

(Thomas is the Florida State cornerback wearing number 8 with sleeves on both arms.)

Projection

Azareye’h Thomas’ projection could depend on the team viewing him.

Some teams may view Thomas as a starting cornerback, while others could view him as a nickel defensive back, while others still may even view him as a potential safety.

The big question will be with Thomas’ speed. His 4.55-second 40-yard dash is slow for a corner, though his movement skills and recognition allow him to play faster than he times, however he could struggle to stay with speedier receivers down the field. Teams with stricter athleticism thresholds could view him as a free safety who’s capable of coming down and playing coverage on receivers in certain packages and situations.

It might be best to view Thomas as a scheme-versatile defensive back who could fill a variety of roles depending on his future teams’ need.

Does he fit the Giants?
Possibly, if he presents a good value

Final Word: An early Day 2 value