REPORTING LIVE FROM FLORHAM PARK—New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn knows an elite cornerback when he sees one.
After all, he was one during his playing days.
Now, as the leader and face of the Jets organization, Glenn has been looking for players who will fit his style of play. Third-round cornerback Azareye’h Thomas was the perfect player to target for that reason, according to Glenn.
Jets give rave reviews on Azareye’h Thomas
Speaking to reporters for the first time following the conclusion of the second day of the 2025 NFL draft, Glenn made it abundantly clear why he was so excited for the team to draft Thomas with the 73rd overall pick on Friday night.
Thomas is 6-foot-2 and uses his large frame to be a physical specimen. Although Florida State struggled last season, Thomas was one of the few bright spots for the program on and off the field.
Now, as a member of the Jets, Thomas’s college tape and aggressive nature made him a no-doubter draft selection by Glenn and the Jets.
“It’s a reason that we drafted him because that’s one of the things that we look at highly when it comes to corners and how disruptive you are at the line of scrimmage,” Glenn explained. “He was one of the better ones coming out this year. When you just watch him and really study him, man, his hand placement, he has this move of not just a one-hand punch, but he has a two-hand punch that a lot of guys can’t do, but he’s done that, and he does a good job of it.
“To be able to put your hands up there and to be able to release it and be able to run, like those are some of the technical things that you watch that it’s something that he just has and a lot of guys can’t teach that or can’t be able to do that and that’s just him, so when you watch him and you see those things, those things get you really excited on how he can take this to this level.”
Glenn’s explanation as to why Thomas was the pick in the third round is essential. New York’s head coach has experience with using his cornerbacks in pure press coverage.
Jets defensive coordinator Steve Wilks has extensive experience with zone coverage. New York will need to decide what coverage to deploy between the two.
Thomas appears ready for anything, though.
And when he’s coached by a Pro Bowl player at the position, and some of the best defensive backs coaches in the league, it’s easy to see why the Jets and Glenn are so excited about how the draft has gone so far.
