Arizona Cardinals select Xavier Thomas in fifth round of 2024 NFL Draft

The Arizona Cardinals have selected Clemson Tigers EDGE Xavier Thomas with the No. 138 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Thomas has officially landed in the NFL after spending six years in Death Valley under the leadership of national championship-winning head coach Dabo Swinney.

Thomas stayed at Clemson for six years, with COVID and injuries helping to extend his stay. During his extended stay, the six-year senior played in 61 games, earning 30 starts from 2018 to 2023. Thomas leaves Clemson as one of nine players in school history to play in 60 or more career games for the program. He now heads to the NFL with 116 total tackles, 62 solo, 33 tackles for loss, 18 sacks, 6 forced fumbles, and two fumbles recovered as a Tiger.

Thomas was part of Clemson’s monster 2018 recording class, which saw them bring in three top-ten five-star plus recruits, one of whom was the top player drafted in the 2021 NFL draft, quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Out of IMG Academy in Bradenton, FL, the elite EDGE prospect was the top recruit in the state, the top defensive lineman in the country, and ranked No. 4 nationally with a rating of 99.33, according to On3’s Industry Ranking.

What NFL Draft analysts are saying about Xavier Thomas

NFL.com gives Xavier Thomas a prospect grade of 6.00, putting him in the group classified as a ‘Traits Or Talent To Be Above-Average Backup.’ NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein provided an analysis of the former Clemson EDGE’s ability and how it transitions to the next level.

“Edge defender who plays with good technique and unwavering energy. Thomas will get widened out at the point of attack or knocked out of his gap by power, but his first-step quickness gives him the ability to disrupt from the back side or when playing in the gaps. Thomas is a one-speed rusher who prefers to attack up and around the arc, but he needs to add relevant counters to go with it. He has the effort and hand usage to keep getting better as a rusher and could find an NFL home as an eventual starter or designated pass rusher in a 3-4 defense.”

NFL.com also lists Thomas’s strengths as follows: Play is marked by tenacity and a motor that stays engaged; Consistent technique to attack blocker and gain separation; First-step quickness to beat back-side cutoffs and close out the run play; Gets to the top of the rush and can win with two-hand swipes and ghost move; Feet stay active to help jump-start his secondary rush success; Quick to sniff out screens and double back to the action.

In terms of weaknesses, Thomas’s are listed as such: Can be bounced around by tackle strength when attempting to set the edge; Unable to stand ground firmly against downhill run blocking right at him; Offensive tackles with strong hands tend to rattle and stifle his rush attack at the punch; Rush can get a little too straight-legged, robbing him of power; Needs to develop and incorporate inside counters at the top of the rush.