As the New York Jets use the remainder of the 2025 season to plant the seeds for long-term growth, the performance of their rookie class is crucial.
They’re enjoying tremendously positive signs on that front, particularly with third-round pick Azareye’h Thomas.
Not only is the 21-year-old cornerback rapidly coming into his own, but he’s already putting himself beside some elite all-time company in Jets history.
With another pass deflection in Sunday’s 27-24 win over the Atlanta Falcons, Thomas has now recorded a pass deflection in five consecutive games. It ties him for the third-longest streak by a Jets rookie; he’s only two games shy of Sauce Gardner’s franchise record, and one game shy of Darrelle Revis.
Jets rookies: Most consecutive games with a pass defense (since the stat was first tracked in 1999)
- 1. Sauce Gardner, 7 (2022)
- 2. Darrelle Revis, 6 (2007)
- T3. Azareye’h Thomas, 5 (2025)
- T3. Darrelle Reivs, 5 (2007)
- T3. Dee Milliner, 5 (2013)
Joining the tie is former Jets first-round pick Dee Milliner, who was on a star trajectory until injuries derailed his career. Revis also had a second streak of five-plus games in his rookie season.
Azareye’h Thomas has soared since Gardner’s departure
The most impressive aspect of Thomas’ streak is that it began as soon as he got his shot to play a featured role.
Thomas was a backup to begin the season; he didn’t step into a starting spot until he replaced the injured Sauce Gardner midway through the Jets’ Week 7 game against the Carolina Panthers. Thomas quickly recorded a pass breakup on a deep shot to fellow rookie standout Tetairoa McMillan, kicking off his active five-game streak.
In fact, Thomas has stepped up with a pass breakup every time he’s gotten a chance to play extended reps this year. Out of his 11 appearances, he played 10+ defensive snaps in just six of them, and he recorded a pass breakup in each of those games. On top of his five-game streak, Thomas had a clutch fourth-quarter deflection against the Buccaneers’ Emeka Egbuka in Week 3 when he briefly stepped in for Gardner.
Thomas’ rookie season has not been without bumps. He’s missed four tackles in limited time (for a poor 20% missed tackle rate) and committed three penalties, including two for pass interference. Overall, though, Thomas has held up admirably well for a 21-year-old rookie who was thrust into the starting lineup mid-season.
Across 138 snaps in coverage, Thomas has allowed 10 of 22 passes in his direction to be completed for 168 yards, one touchdown, and no interceptions. Just six of the 22 passes thrown his way have resulted in a touchdown or first down, a fantastic rate of 27.2% (league average: 33.5%).
According to Pro Football Focus, Thomas has a forced incompletion rate of 22.7% this season (five forced incompletions on 22 targets), placing him sixth-best out of 121 qualified quarterbacks. Two spots above him? There, you will find Sauce Gardner (25.0%).
It would be a stretch to claim that Thomas is playing at Gardner’s level just yet; Gardner was a first-team All-Pro in his rookie year, and Thomas hasn’t been nearly as dominant.
Nonetheless, the fact that Thomas’ name is anywhere close to Gardner’s in some of these statistics is a major positive for the Jets. He doesn’t have to be the next Gardner for the Jets to benefit in the long run. New York’s future isn’t about Gardner vs. Thomas; it’s Gardner vs. Thomas, Adonai Mitchell, two first-round picks, and a plethora of cap space.
So, if Thomas is even just a “very good” starting cornerback for the Jets, they will feel great about the Gardner trade in the long run.
Keep in mind, though, that the Florida State kid is only 21 years old with four NFL starts under his belt. Gardner was 22 in his rookie year. For Thomas, having his name mentioned alongside Gardner’s at such an early stage in his football life is a sign that his NFL ceiling is limitless. Who’s to say that Thomas cannot aim for Gardner’s heights in the future?
For now, the Jets are more than thrilled with the progress of their third-round rookie corner.
