After a rough 0-3 start to the 2025 NFL Season, the New York Jets must consider giving playing time to rookie cornerback Azareye’h Thomas.

Despite suffering three-consecutive losses to kick off the 2025 NFL season, the New York Jets have seen the rise of multiple young playmakers on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball.

Second-year defender and newly-acquired defensive tackle Jowon Briggs is beginning to make his presence known thus far, tallying six total tackles, one tackle for a loss and one sack through three games. And on offense, 2025 first-round pick Armand Membou has done a terrific job taking over for the team's former right tackle, Morgan Moses.

But one of the biggest takeaways from this season has been the defense, as head coach Aaron Glenn's unit has given up the fourth-most points per game (31) across the entire NFL. And while the defense still possesses some of the best players in Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams, the depth remains a key issue.

This includes the Jets' secondary unit, which still lacks a true boundary corner to play opposite of Gardner. New York signed former 2021 third-round pick Brandon Stephens to fill this void, but the 27-year-old has been unable to prove himself in this new role. Luckily for Glenn and company, the Jets landed former Florida State standout cornerback Azareye’h Thomas in the recent NFL Draft.

The former third-round pick played a key role in the Seminoles' undefeated 2023 season, finishing with six pass breakups and a defensive grade of 75.0, according to PFF. Thomas eventually had a slight regression in 2024, but at 6-foot-2, 198 lbs., it was clear that there was untapped potential with the star defender, causing New York to use a day two pick on the blossoming talent.

With a smooth blend of size and speed in his arsenal, Thomas excels in 1-on-1 man coverages and has the ability to play outside or in the slot. His versatility was finally put to the test in week three, as he played 10 snaps against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. During his stint on the field, Thomas did not allow a single catch on two pass attempts.

Now that the Jets are winless to start this season, it's clear that Glenn must begin to transition Thomas into the cornerback mix for the rest of the year. This would allow him to gain meaningful experience on defense and prepare him for a much-larger role in 2026.

If the highly-touted cornerback does show signs of reaching his true potential this, New York will not be handcuffed into selecting a player at his position in the 2026 NFL Draft, while also allowing for the front office to focus on the offensive side of the ball. It's clear that finding a franchise quarterback will be the top priority heading into next season, along with adding another wide receiver to pair with the team's top pass catcher, Garrett Wilson.

The playoff hopes for this season might be quickly fading away for the Jets, but having their young players receive meaningful playing time this season only helps the organization in the near future.