Juan Thornhill will remain in the AFC North for 2025. The former Browns safety has agreed to a one-year deal with the Steelers, Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network report.
Thornhill recently visited the 49ers, as noted by Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz. Instead of taking a deal with San Francisco, though, the 29-year-old has elected to join a more familiar team. After a four-year run in Kansas City, he landed a three-year Browns pact in free agency.
He ended up completing two of those three seasons, with the defensive back starting 11 games in both 2023 and 2024. A calf injury was the culprit in both campaigns, although he managed to return from injury this past season and appear in 10 of Cleveland’s final 11 games. He was getting into about half of the Browns’ defensive snaps down the stretch, and he ultimately finished the campaign with 49 tackles, his lowest total since 2020.
Thornhill was released last month, ending his Cleveland tenure and leaving him free to join a new team prior to the start of the new league year. He found a home with a division foe, as the 29-year-old will now join Pittsburgh’s secondary. Minkah Fitzpatrick and DeShon Elliott soaked up the majority of the snaps in 2024 and will continue to lead the depth chart in 2025. This means Thornhill will be stepping into more of a backup role, and it’s notable that Damontae Kazee, the team’s third safety in 2024, remains unsigned.
Ben Levine contributed to this post.
Nice
I’m guessing their free agency signings to get more depth in the secondary and even a D-lineman yesterday means that maybe they will opt for a QB earlier than expected in the draft
Eh this signing makes them not even have to bat an eye at safety
The Dliner can be used in rotation regardless of who they draft
Not sure what’s happening at QB, but seems like they’re leaning heavily towards a vet on a short term deal
Hope not
DeShon Elliot was quietly fantastic for the Steelers last year. One of their best UFA signings ever.
He was every bit as good as Ryan Clark ever was, for sure. Maybe better.