The 2025 NFL Draft began on Friday afternoon as the second and third round selection process began. I originally thought that former Florida State cornerback Azareye'h Thomas would be selected in the second round after there were rumors that he would be picked in the late first round.
Thomas had some mock drafts that had him pegged in the first round. While those are opinionated, it is a good barometer for where NFL prospects could go.
The Seminoles had a difficult 2024 season, where they possessed a 2-10 record. There were only a few bright spots in the squad from draft-eligible players, such as kicker Ryan Fitzgerald, punter Alex Mastromanno, defensive back Azareye'h Thomas, and defensive tackle Joshua Farmer.
Thomas ended up being selected in the third round with the 73rd overall pick by the New York Jets. This is an excellent spot for the defensive back to show off his talent. There is usually a reason for the slippage, but the former Florida State Seminole had a fantastic showing during the practice portion of the Senior Bowl.
The former four-star prospect had been overshadowed early on during his career with Florida State because he was the defensive back who was signed during the former five-star Travis Hunter debacle with flipping on Early Signing Day.
However, the Niceville, Florida native proved to the fan base that he was a special talent. During his three-year career with the Seminoles, he recorded 95 tackles (nine for loss), 15 pass deflections, and two interceptions.
It was not like he had any off-the-field issues since he and his family come from a religious background. He will now be reunited with former Florida State teammate Jordan Travis. I know that he had to wait so long to get drafted, but now he is on a mission to prove that he is a great defensive back.