The Pittsburgh Steelers spent very sparingly in NFL free agency ahead of the 2025 season, focusing on strategic scheme fits rather than large contracts. And one of those bargain purchases was former Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns safety Juan Thornhill.
The Steelers ended up signing Thornhill to a one-year, $3 million contract, which was very reminiscent of their DeShon Elliott addition in 2024. Pittsburgh will no doubt be happy if Thornhill’s deal plays out the same way, as Elliott just earned himself a pay raise this offseason due to his success.
Elliott’s terrific campaign actually made it somewhat surprising when the Thornhill news first came in. Why sign another safety when you have Minkah Fitzpatrick and Elliott patrolling the back end of the defense?
The answer, in all likelihood, is that Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin envisions utilizing a heavy three-safety system in 2025, and The Athletic’s Mike DeFabo explained why Thornhill could be “sneaky important” for this defense on June 26.
“A sneaky important player on the roster, Thornhill’s addition gives the Steelers solid depth and, more importantly, should allow them to lean into their three-safety defenses (a big nickel version and a dime version),” DeFabo outlined while breaking down every player on the defensive side of the 90-man roster.
“Will the Steelers like the look of the big nickel enough to make that one of their primary packages?” The Pittsburgh beat reporter pondered. It’s possible with Thornhill, a defensive back who has registered 81 career starts, including the postseason.
Steelers Reporter Believes Juan Thornhill’s Presence Could Help Minkah Fitzpatrick Make More ‘Splash’ Plays in 2025
DeFabo elaborated a little further on Thornhill’s expected impact while discussing Fitzpatrick, and it sounds like he thinks the newcomer could help the former three-time first-team All-Pro get back to being his old playmaking self.
“The ballhawking prowess that made Fitzpatrick one of the highest-paid players at his position disappeared, as he’s intercepted just one pass over the last two years combined,” the Steelers beat reporter noted.
Continuing: “Some like to blame the defensive decision-makers, but they have played Fitzpatrick in two different ways with no difference (in 2023, he was in the slot and near the line of scrimmage more than ever, and last year, he focused primarily on playing the deep middle).”
That’s where Thornhill’s presence comes into play.
“With schematic changes to the defense that mirror Fitzpatrick’s college assignments at Alabama, a better third safety (Juan Thornhill) who will put Fitzpatrick in different places, a new secondary coach and corners more capable of playing man coverage (which often leads to tips and overthrows), it wouldn’t be surprising to see the splash return,” DeFabo wrote.
In other words, Fitzpatrick has a better supporting cast at safety than ever before, and that could take the pressure off as he floats around the Steelers’ defense like the elite playmaker he once was.
Juan Thornhill Profiles as Opportunistic & Versatile DB Addition Ahead of Steelers’ 2025 Season
When looking at Thornhill’s usage over his career, which has been split between the Chiefs and Browns, two things stand out. The versatility and the interceptions.
Thornhill was opportunistic early in his career, like Fitzpatrick, logging 8 interceptions over his first four seasons in Kansas City. He then went 0-for-2 on recording his first interception in Cleveland and was let go before his third season with the Browns.
As for his positional versatility, according to Pro Football Focus, Thornhill has been utilized all over the defense with a notable number of snaps lined up at free safety, inside the box, slot corner, and outside the opposing offensive tackle on the defensive line.
If his total snap counts are any indication, Thornhill’s most comfortable position is free safety. PFF has tallied 3,419 career snaps in that role, compared to 909 at box safety, 707 guarding the slot, 115 on the DL and 31 at outside cornerback.
