The Pittsburgh Steelers have added experienced safety Juan Thornhill to their roster with a one-year contract. Thornhill, aged 29, was initially drafted in the second round by the Kansas City Chiefs after playing college football at Virginia. Throughout his career, he has participated in 87 games, starting in 74 of them, including 22 starts over the last two seasons with the Cleveland Browns.
Thornhill showcased impressive athletic skills during his time at Virginia and at the NFL Scouting Combine. He recorded a 4.43-second 40-yard dash, a vertical jump of 44 inches, and a standing broad jump of 11 feet and 9 inches while measuring six feet tall and weighing 205 pounds.
His athleticism was evident during his tenure with Kansas City, where he not only served as the team’s starting free safety but also frequently played in the slot position. Over his career, Thornhill has accumulated eight interceptions and 24 pass breakups.
In Cleveland, Thornhill primarily played as a traditional free safety, seeing fewer opportunities to cover the slot compared to his final season with Kansas City in 2022 when he logged significant snaps in that role.
Thornhill’s signing offers depth for Pittsburgh behind starters Minkah Fitzpatrick and DeShon Elliott while replacing free agent Damonte Kazee. His versatility allows the team to consider more “Big Nickel” defensive packages by deploying one of these safeties into the slot against tight ends or larger receivers.
Despite not having an extensive special teams background due to his previous roles as a starter, Thornhill could potentially contribute on special teams under new “Dynamic” kickoff rules given his skill set.
With this addition alongside Fitzpatrick, Elliott, veteran Miles Killebrew, and second-year player Ryan Watts on their roster, it appears unlikely that Pittsburgh will pursue another safety in the upcoming draft.
