One New York Jets rookie isn’t getting the love he deserves.
Damian Parson of Bleacher Report revealed the top six most “overlooked rookies” in the NFL, “most likely to generate major training camp buzz.”
Jets cornerback Azareye’h Thomas cracked the list and is on a mission heading into his first training camp.
“[Aaron] Glenn’s impact on the Jets’ secondary will be as easy to identify as the former NFL defensive back himself. He likes cornerbacks who have size, athleticism, and man-coverage ability. Insert Azareye’h Thomas into this newly formed cornerbacks room. Thomas joins established veterans Sauce Gardner, Brandon Stephens, and Michael Carter on the depth chart,” Parson said.
“The 21-year-old adds the youthful exuberance the room needs, and he is highly competitive. Do not expect him to lay down and not fight for a starting job,” Parson boldly explained.
The Positional Battle to Watch in Training Camp for the Jets
Gardner and Carter are locked in starters written in permanent marker. You would assume the same for Stephens, who this new regime inked in free agency to a three-year $36 million contract with $22.9 million of that guaranteed.
That was the second-largest contract that new Jets general manager Darren Mougey doled out outside of the $40 million deal for quarterback Justin Fields.
Stephens struggled with the Baltimore Ravens in 2024.
“He allowed 858 yards, four receiving touchdowns, and a passer rating of 105.7 with zero interceptions last season, per NFL Pro via Parson.”
With training camp right around the corner, Parson believes AZ Thomas “has everything to push the veterans for snaps alongside Gardner.”
“The Florida State product will have the opportunity to prove he deserves more than being viewed as the CB4 of this group,” Parson said. “Watch out for any potential matchups against star receiver Garrett Wilson during Jets’ training camp practices. Holding his own against an explosive and crafty route-runner will help propel him up the depth chart sooner than expected.”
The Blunt Truth About the Stephens-Thomas Dynamic at CB for Jets
Free agency comes before the draft in the NFL. It’s the opposite in the NBA with the draft preceding free agency.
Perhaps the Jets would have made a different decision on Stephens if they knew they would land Thomas with the No. 73 overall pick in the third round. The world will never know the truth.
It is what it is now. The Jets have Stephens on a multi-year pact, and they have Thomas as a developing youngster behind the scenes.
If the Jets coaching staff can take Stephens’ traits and unlock him as a player, like they believe they can, then they have a first-world problem on their hands. You’d rather have too many good cornerbacks than not.
The most likely situation is that Stephens is the Week 1 starter at corner and Thomas is a reserve player. However, things can change in the NFL on a dime. If Stephens continues to decline, Thomas will be ready to take advantage.
Thomas provides the Jets with one of the best insurance policies in the NFL. He was a first-round level corner that fell to the third round. One of the biggest misconceptions in the draft is oh jeez, I need a corner right now, oh here is a corner. The draft is a much deeper game than that. We might need a corner in a year, so let’s draft one now, develop him, and he’ll be ready when we need him.
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