Kansas City Chiefs projected to select former FSU Standout in first-round

The former Seminole could be a good fit in Kansas City.

Sep 14, 2024; Tallahassee, Florida, USA; Florida State Seminoles defensive back Azareye'h Thomas (8) warms up before a game against the Memphis Tigers at Doak S. Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Myers-Imagn Images / Melina Myers-Imagn Images

In the first 2025 mock draft from NFL Network media analyst Eric Edholm, former Florida State standout cornerback Azareye'h Thomas was placed as a late first-round pick, headed to the Kansas City Chiefs at No. 32.

READ MORE: Top quarterback Brady Smigiel, Father reveal why he decommitted from Florida State

Edholm wrote this of the Chiefs' pick and Azareye'h Thomas in his article:

Thomas created a little buzz on Day 1 in Mobile and fits the mold of a corner who can thrive in Steve Spagnuolos' press-man-heavy system.

- Eric Edholm, NFLN Lead Draft Writer

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).

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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READ MORE: four-star 6-foot-9 offensive tackle Chastan Brown commits to Florida State

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