A Carlton Davis Clone In Round 2?
April 21st, 2025
Florida State CB Azareye’h Thomas.
The fun thing about this draft for Joe is that it is fully unpredictable.
As Joe has stated multiple times, you could argue the Bucs ought to draft at every position on defense at No. 19. So Joe isn’t going to lose sleep over what position is filled Thursday on Night 1 of the draft.
Shoot, Joe has even made a case, mostly for fun, for Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht to draft a receiver at No. 19.
Again, Joe won’t lose a wink of sleep if that happens.
Now a lot of folks are clamoring for the Bucs to draft a corner as they are fed up with Jamel Dean.
So let’s say the Bucs draft a defensive player who is not a corner at No. 19. Pretty fair chance they go for a corner in the second round, right?
Bucs coach Todd Bowles likes tall corners. At the owners meetings last month in Palm Beach, Bowles was asked by a Patriots beat writer for his take on Carlton Davis. Bowles raved about Davis and bragged how Davis helped the Bucs win a Super Bowl.
Given how Bowles crowed about Davis, would he want a Davis clone on draft weekend? Because a Davis clone could be there in the second round.
That’s what Dane Brugler of The Athletic typed in his draft guide called “The Beast.” It’s Florida State corner Azareye’h Thomas, who is 6-1 1/2, 196 pounds.
SUMMARY: A one-year starter at Florida State, Thomas was an outside cornerback (left and right) in former defensive coordinator Adam Fuller’s man/zone scheme. There weren’t many bright spots in the Seminoles’ two-win 2024 campaign, but Thomas’ continued development was encouraging — he allowed just 17 catches (on 33 targets).
A good-sized athlete, Thomas isn’t the fastest cornerback in the draft class, but he recovers well from missteps and rarely gets beat over the top. His length and physicality help him disrupt the timing of routes and make him a factor at the catch point, although you would like to see him come away with more interceptions. Overall, Thomas isn’t the most sudden or button-upped cover man, but he consistently crowds receivers on the outside with his size, fluidity and competitiveness. He has NFL-starting tools, and his play style is very similar to that of Carlton Davis.
Brugler also noted that Thomas is a very aggressive corner.
Emory Hunt of CBS, the Czar of the Playbook, in his “2025 Football Gameplan Draft Guide” has Thomas rated as his No. 5 corner.
– Big fan of his footwork in both man and zone coverage. They’re very efficient and technical, and helps him effectively mirror and match receivers.
– Good length that shows up at the catch point with how he’s able to either play through the hands of the receiver or attack the ball at its highest point.
– Solid defender vs the run. While it may not always be the cleanest, for the most part he’s very effective.
– Good man-to-man cover skills, showing good press ability.
One ding that Hunt gave Thomas is being little handsy at times. Yup, sounds like Davis.
If the Bucs could get a Davis clone in the second round, Joe thinks that would be a solid pickup by.
CB Azareye'h Thomas, FSU
6’1 ½, 197 pound, 32 ⅜ arm length – Young at 20.7 years old – Confident, fluid mover – Body to absorb contact – Excellent Press Jam paired with reactive feet – Disruptive at the line with long arms and strength – Hands and feet work in unison -… pic.twitter.com/Nzht19esre
— The Film Room (@Cover1FilmRoom) April 3, 2025
April 21st, 2025 at 10:37 am
Only thing that makes me nervous is the speed
April 21st, 2025 at 10:39 am
Or Zah Frazier 3rd, or Nohl Williams 4th, or even Isas Waxter 7th
April 21st, 2025 at 10:39 am
I agree Joe.
April 21st, 2025 at 10:39 am
Average to below average speed, pretty low athletic profile from the combine…
Might be a value pick in round 2. Could project as a safety due to size and lack of long speed.
April 21st, 2025 at 10:43 am
He is too slow.
April 21st, 2025 at 11:05 am
I never want a CB that runs a 4.6 again.
I want 3 corners in this draft who run under a 4.4.
3rd, 4th and 7th round picks.
April 21st, 2025 at 11:21 am
“Or Zah Frazier 3rd, or Nohl Williams 4th”
I like the way you think Mad Max.
April 21st, 2025 at 11:23 am
A CD clone?
So how many games is he going to miss each season?
April 21st, 2025 at 11:23 am
Agree with MadMax — I think you’ve got them a round early though, honestly.
**Azareye’h Thomas, FSU**
To me, he’s just okay at best. He allowed a 50% completion rate as joe kindly pointed out and played on a team that was so bad last year that, if he were truly good, quarterbacks should have avoided him entirely. The fact that he gave up half the passes thrown his way, *despite* that context, is wild. And yet, people expect him to improve at the NFL level?
On top of that—and this comes from Ds, Filthy Animal, Billy Bucko, and Teacher Man as well—he’s too slow to compete in 2025. Speed in the league has gotten out of hand over the last five years. If you can’t run, you can’t survive. Fractions of a second are all the difference at the NFL level.
I was SO high last year on K.J. Britt. The guy had everything you want from the waist up in a linebacker. But at 4.76? Just too slow. And that’s crazy let’s not be insane. (Trying the same thing over and over expecting a different result )
April 21st, 2025 at 11:50 am
He has a lot going for him, however I agree with others commenting. Too slow.
Josh, good point – We don’t want our guys giving up half of the passes. The NFL is a lot tougher.
April 21st, 2025 at 11:58 am
Jason and Todd know if he’s too slow. Or not.
April 21st, 2025 at 12:18 pm
Pass-Plays with his back to the QB way too much, and I am not talking about fly routes either.
April 21st, 2025 at 12:19 pm
The draft experts he to slow
Not slow enough I guess making plays
April 21st, 2025 at 12:33 pm
Aggressive at corner? We haven’t seen Mr Dean in that mode.
April 21st, 2025 at 12:33 pm
Dude I think I just witnessed PI or holding on every play lol
April 21st, 2025 at 12:37 pm
Thomas looks pretty good with man press coverage in his highlights….
BUT – a 4.58 40 is WAY slow for an NFL CB…..
Much rather have the kid from Kentucky who runs a 4.28 and is a legit ballhawk.
Aside from getting hurt and thus being unavailable too often – that was the biggest knock on Carlton Davis – hands of stone. No need to repeat that scenario – Bowles already said he wants more turnovers and ballhawks on defense.
April 21st, 2025 at 12:38 pm
MadMax
Come far, you have. The path of strength, you walk now Padawan
April 21st, 2025 at 1:02 pm
Looks like he runs about a 4.75 second 40 yard.
April 21st, 2025 at 1:20 pm
@LUVMYBUCS,
Are you getting into the Andor S2 groove?
April 21st, 2025 at 1:44 pm
lambchop
Lol, yup
April 21st, 2025 at 2:10 pm
Thomas only has 1 career interception. If it is because no one throws his way (like Revis in his prime) then ok but if not, move on.
Xavier Watts at S has a great track record of being a real ballhawk (check out his interception totals in 2023 and 2024) so IMO he is a better choice if looking for a round 2 DB.
April 21st, 2025 at 3:04 pm
Looks pretty sticky. I’m sure Todd could shape him into a pro
April 21st, 2025 at 3:14 pm
Wait… isn’t there a reason Carlton Davis got traded?
I’m pretty sure there was a reason he got traded.
…and if he got traded for a reason (and he did), then why do we want his clone?
April 21st, 2025 at 3:43 pm
According to my stop calendar this guy is plenty fast enough.
April 21st, 2025 at 5:31 pm
Darien Porter out of Iowa St is a converted WR and has only played WR one year, but a good special teams guy. A developmental guy in rnd3 with great length and speed.
April 21st, 2025 at 5:38 pm
Haha, thanks Luv, i try.