Steelers eye safety reinforcements as Thornhill’s starting role hangs in the balance amid offseason changes

Thornhill, who joined the Steelers on a one-year, $3 million deal in March, brings a wealth of experience with 74 career starts. However, his performance has declined in recent seasons during his tenure with the Cleveland Browns, culminating in a disappointing 2024 campaign where he played just 57% of defensive snaps—the lowest of his career. As the Steelers eye potential upgrades, the pressure is mounting on Thornhill to demonstrate his value.

As the Steelers evaluate their options, Miles Killebrew and Sebastian Castro emerge as key candidates to compete for playing time. Killebrew has made a name for himself primarily as a special teams player, logging only 177 defensive snaps since 2021. Meanwhile, Castro, a once-promising prospect, went undrafted this year and will need to prove himself to earn a spot on the roster.

With $17.645 million in cap space available, the Steelers are well-positioned to pursue veteran safeties such as Justin Simmons or Julian Blackmon if they choose to do so. Alternatively, they could opt to wait until final roster cuts, hoping to find a hidden gem released by another team.

Mark Kaboly, a Steelers insider, emphasized the importance of addressing the safety position. He stated, “You talk about not doing your due diligence of trying to improve a defense and create competition by just handing a starting job to Juan Thornhill, who had a below average season last year.” The Steelers must remain vigilant in their search for reinforcements, whether that means acting sooner or waiting for August when roster adjustments occur.

As the offseason unfolds, the Steelers have a critical opportunity to solidify their secondary and enhance their defensive capabilities. The decisions made in the coming weeks will be pivotal as they prepare for the challenges of the upcoming season.