The latest name linked to the Green Bay Packers in ESPN’s Pre-Combine Mock Draft is Azareye’h Thomas. The Green Bay Packers have been often selecting defensive backs in 2025 NFL mock drafts, and this 6-foot-2 corner out of Florida State has been a steady riser up draft boards since the Senior Bowl. Thomas might be exactly what the Packers need to fill a Jaire Alexander-sized hole in their defensive backfield.
The Azareye’h Thomas Hype Has Been Building For Weeks
Few players possess the athletic traits that Thomas has. Even at 6’2″, 200 pounds, he has tremendous speed that makes him a superb man coverage corner.
Azareye’h Thomas is a press-man TECHNICIAN.
He allowed a 50.2 passer rating in 2024, including 5 PBUs, 1 pick, and 0 TDs allowed.
At 6’2 200lbs, he has an elite height-weight speed combo on the boundary that teams will love.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see him drafted round 1. pic.twitter.com/Gv7Gi4UJsK
— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) January 25, 2025
Even though Florida State had an embarrassing 2-10 season, the lack of team success did not stop Thomas from continuing to put his NFL traits on tape. Although he only has 2 career interceptions in 3 years as a Seminole, Thomas consistently has tremendous reps and standout moments.
An eye-catching Senior Bowl that featured one-handed interceptions, multiple shutdown reps in 1v1s, and maturity in interviews earned Thomas comparisons to former Minnesota Vikings corner Xavier Rhodes.
FSU CB Azareye’h Thomas with the One-Handed Interception to start day 3 of #SeniorBowl Practice. Only had 2 career picks, but he made plays like this constantly at FSU practices. pic.twitter.com/k6L1QcZGL4
— Clay Fink (@clay_fink) January 30, 2025
Rhodes, who also attended Florida State, was a first team All-Pro caliber player during his pro career. He was selected in the first round of the 2013 Draft and became a three-time Pro-Bowler. Thomas has the man coverage skills that was Rhodes’ calling card as well as the top-end athletic traits. Azareye’h is also the younger brother of Dallas Cowboys defensive back Juanyeh Thomas.
How Would Azareye’h Thomas Fit as a Member of the Green Bay Packers
The hype has continued to build since his time in Mobile, and ESPN’s Mel Kiper expects Thomas’ athletic traits and measurables to continue to impress after the upcoming NFL Combine. Included below are Kiper’s full musings on the selection.
Thomas was getting some notice after the Senior Bowl, and he’s probably going to get some more after the combine. His speed and length are standout traits, and he uses them to make plays on the ball; he broke up 17 passes over the past two seasons. Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley would love Thomas in his zone-heavy coverage schemes where he can break on the ball and halt pass catchers before they tack on yards after the catch. And if Green Bay moves on from the oft-injured Jaire Alexander, there’s going to be a big hole at the position.
As Kiper mentioned, the Packers under defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley have been one of the heaviest zone coverage teams in the NFL. Cover-3 has been Hafley’s bread and butter, and although Thomas has been labeled as one of the top man coverage corners in the class, his zone coverage skills are also above average. His versatility lies in his ability to excel in both man and zone schemes, which makes him a big weapon on defense.
Azareye’h Thomas figures to be one of several top-end corners that should be available at the end of the first round. The Packers will be selecting 23rd, and have already been linked to Kentucky’s Maxwell Hairston at that spot. With the departure of Jaire Alexander seeming more and more likely, the needs in the secondary would ideally be addressed through the draft.
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