Azareye'h Thomas pick proves NY Jets are sticking to their draft blueprint

The New York Jets surprised some fans with their third-round pick on Day 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft, selecting Florida State cornerback Azareye'h Thomas at No. 73 overall.

It wasn't a pick many had projected for the Jets after two straight offensive selections, and it raised questions about roster fit, especially after the team's significant investment in veteran cornerback Brandon Stephens.

But the pick was not about need — it was about philosophy. And it perfectly encapsulates what this new Jets regime is trying to build.

Thomas, a long, athletic outside cornerback prospect with starter-level traits, fits the mold of what general manager Darren Mougey and head coach Aaron Glenn clearly want: talented, high-upside football players who can be part of the team's next core.

Even if the immediate fit is not obvious, the talent is undeniable. The Jets are not reaching to fill depth chart holes. They are collecting pieces they believe can help define their future.

The NY Jets are using the draft to find long-term building blocks

This is not a full-blown roster rebuild. The Jets have foundational pieces like Sauce Gardner, Quinnen Williams, and Garrett Wilson already in place. Instead, it is a retooling — a methodical effort to replace patchwork solutions with long-term answers, even if it means making a few unconventional moves along the way.

The theme through three picks has been clear: Best Player Available. Armand Membou, Mason Taylor, Azareye'h Thomas. The Jets just want good football players in the building, and they drafted three of them to start shaping what this next era is going to look like.

That approach has shown up in each of the Jets’ first three picks. Membou was not only one of the best prospects available at No. 7 overall, but he also filled the team’s biggest immediate need at right tackle.

Taylor followed a similar blueprint, giving the Jets a top tight end prospect who was projected as a potential late first-rounder and immediately plugging a major hole on offense.

Thomas, meanwhile, was more of a pure value pick. He might not fill an obvious short-term need with Sauce Gardner, Michael Carter II, and Brandon Stephens already in the building, but his upside, physical traits, and long-term potential made him too good to pass up at No. 73.

This is how you build a sustainable foundation. You trust your board, prioritize talent over short-term needs, and stack as many long-term building blocks as possible. The Jets aren't just filling holes — they are building a team the right way, one smart pick at a time.

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