Kansas City Chiefs projected to take former FSU defensive back in first round

In the first 2025 mock draft from NFL Network analytics expert Cynthia Frelund, former Florida State standout cornerback Azareye'h Thomas is projected to go to the Kansas City Chiefs at pick No. 31. This comes nearly a week after another NFL Network mock draft also had Thomas in the first round.

Frelund wrote this of the Chiefs' pick and Azareye'h Thomas in her article:

One of my favorite Thomas notes is that he gains speed after adjusting his hips to the direction of the ball at the second-quickest rate in the class, which is impressive for his size (6-1 1/2, 191). Oh, and he can press, too.
Cynthia Frelund, NFLN Analytics Expert

Despite FSU's 2-10 season, Thomas provided some optimism and security on one portion of the football field. He had a career year, starting in all 12 games and totaling 52 tackles, two tackles for loss, four pass deflections, and one interception. Thomas played the most snaps (755) of any Seminole and logged nearly 200 more snaps than the next closest defender (Patrick Payton, 579).

Florida State Seminoles defensive back Azareye'h Thomas warms up before a game against the Memphis Tigers. | Melina Myers-Imagn Images

Thomas signed with Florida State in 2022 as a four-star prospect. He spent his first year under former defensive backs coach Marcus Woodson but stuck with the program when Patrick Surtain Sr. took over the room in 2023. Thomas became more of a regular contributor during his sophomore season before becoming a full-time starter in 2024.

The Florida native said this regarding FSU's lackluster season:

"A bad season don't make a bad team, a bad season don't make a bad coach, it's life. Yes, we wanted to make it to the natty, we wanted to do all this but we got hit in the mouth and life happened. So are we going to pout about it, are we going to complain or are we going to grow from it and learn from it? If you try to look at it as a loss then you ain't going to never really learn but if you look at it as a lesson you can learn, you can grow from it, you can build, and you can stack upon it."

The 2025 NFL Draft takes place in Green Bay, Wisconsin from April 24-26.

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