NY Jets' latest pick makes the Brandon Stephens signing even more confusing

After addressing their offense with their first two picks of the 2025 NFL Draft, the New York Jets turned to defense in Round 3. With the No. 73 overall pick, they selected Florida State cornerback Azareye'h Thomas, a long, athletic outside corner with real NFL starter traits.

On paper, it is a strong value pick, but the move raises some serious questions about the team's overall strategy. In particular, it raises questions about the team's Brandon Stephens signing.

Earlier this offseason, the Jets handed Stephens a three-year, $36 million contract with $23 million guaranteed to replace D.J. Reed. It was a risky investment given Stephens’ struggles in coverage last season, and now, after spending a premium Day 2 pick on another outside corner, that signing looks even more puzzling.

If the Jets had full confidence in Stephens as a starter, would they really have prioritized Thomas this early? And if the plan is to move Stephens to safety, the $12 million AAV contract they handed him looks even more perplexing.

Azareye'h Thomas pick makes the Jets' Brandon Stephens signing even more puzzling

Thomas profiles as an outside cornerback at the next level, the exact role Stephens was expected to fill. For a team that entered the draft with other more pressing needs, the selection feels less like a luxury and more like a hedge, and it leaves Stephens’ fit looking shakier than ever.

It's not that Thomas isn't an excellent prospect, and in reality, this is fantastic value for the Jets. Standing at 6-foot-2, 197 pounds, Thomas boasts impressive size and length, making him a prototypical outside cornerback.

Despite a modest 4.58-second 40-yard dash, his on-field performance tells a different story. In the 2024 season, he allowed just 17 receptions on 33 targets, totaling 141 yards, showcasing his ability to limit big plays.

His physicality and competitiveness at the catch point are evident, and while he may not have elite speed, his fluidity and size enable him to effectively contest passes and disrupt routes.

Thomas is a very good boundary cornerback prospect who many believed could be a top-50 pick in this class. The issue lies with the Stephens signing, not the Thomas pick.

Either the Jets plan to have Thomas sit behind Sauce Gardner and Stephens as CB4 for the next 2-3 years, or they plan to move Stephens to safety. Paying Stephens — statistically one of the worst cover cornerbacks in the NFL last season — $12 million was already an overpay.

Paying Stephens that money and asking him to play a less valuable position feels like bad practice and a misstep on the part of general manager Darren Mougey.

Again, the Thomas selection is excellent in a vacuum. The Jets landed a top-50 caliber cornerback prospect with the 73rd pick. At the same time, it only makes the Brandon Stephens signing look even more confusing.

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