Steelers reportedly sign safety Juan Thornhill to a one-year deal
The Pittsburgh Steelers are continuing to shape their 2025 roster. As the second week of free agency is under way, the Steelers have reportedly agreed to terms with safety Juan Thornhill on a one-year deal per Jordan Schultz.
Sources: Former #Browns safety Juan Thornhill is signing with the #Steelers.
A proven vet, Thornhill has 8 career INTs and 87 starts. pic.twitter.com/1dGai9Angz
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) March 17, 2025
Thornhill was a 2019 second round draft pick of the Kansas City Chiefs out of Virginia. In his four seasons of his rookie contract in Kansas City, Thornhill started 52 of the 65 games in which he appeared where he had 234 tackles, 1.0 sacks, and 8 interceptions with one returned for a touchdown. Signing a three-year deal with the Browns in 2023 for $21 million, Thornhill was released by the Browns this offseason as a post-June 1 designation. In his two seasons in Cleveland, Thornhill appeared in and started 11 games each year and had 103 tackles. But after having at least one interception each season in Kansas City, with three in his final year of 2022, Thornhill failed to intercept a ball with the Browns.
Because Thornhill was released by the Browns and did not complete his contract, he is yet another player the Steelers have added who will not count in the compensatory formula.
With Micah Fitzpatrick and DeShon Elliott as the expected starters at safety for the Steelers, Thornhill is likely to be added as the often-used third safety option held in 2024 by Damontae Kazee who is currently a free agent.
Thornhill will turn 30 in October of the 2025 season.
Be sure to stay tuned to SCN for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for the rest of free agency, and the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft.
Ok, this has nothing to do with the signing of Thornhill, but back to the QB discussion. I keep checking back to the internet to see if there’s any news, and there continues to be nothing, so there aren’t any stories to post about it on, so I’m bringing it up here.
Admittedly, I’m on team “I don’t want Aaron Rogers.” But we have given him a contract offer. At what point do the Steelers say, “Never mind”? Rogers drawing this out is just another indication of the drama-loving, attention-craving, everybody-look-at-what-a-big-deal-I-am mentality that comes with Aaron Rogers. If he wanted to sign with the Steelers, he would have. At this point, if he signs with us, he’s just going to look at us as a consolation prize and he’s going to have the same half-hearted approach here as he did in NY. The Steelers need to take the offer off the table, tell him, “You obviously don’t want to play here, and we don’t want hostages.” Tell him to go kick rocks, ride the season with Mason and whatever they do in the draft and never look back.
If he signs here, which is looking more and more likely, then I will root for him and hope he has the best season of his career. But what I expect is halfhearted play, a lot of people getting thrown under busses, and an unceremonious departure at the end of the season (and hopefully an end to his career). But I’m tired of the team being drug along for the Aaron Rogers drama ride just so he can feel self-important.