The Pittsburgh Steelers have to replace Minkah Fitzpatrick after moving him to the Miami Dolphins in the Jalen Ramsey trade.
They signed former Chiefs and Browns safety Juan Thornhill this offseason, and he is the favorite to earn that starting free safety role. Yet, is he the answer to replacing Fitzpatrick?
Former NFL cornerback Will Blackmon is a fan of Thornhill’s game and believes the veteran defensive back can be the answer to the team’s struggles.
“I’m going to give you another name: Juan Thornhill, the safety that they got,” Blackmon said on the Facility. “He has 74 starts, is a two-time Super Bowl champion. So, you lose Minkah, but you got a leader back there who knows exactly what to do, who knows exactly what it takes to win championships. I think, wholeheartedly, they got better. They got in a situation where they’re gonna compete, they’re gonna compete. I got them actually winning a playoff game this year and ending that drought.
Thornhill was released by the Cleveland Browns this offseason and played through multiple injuries that he believes affected his level of play. He flew around the football during the first two days in a new defense despite being away from the team for OTAs.
“I surprised myself a little bit,” Thornhill said. “I was worried, new defense, maybe it would take me some time. But when I got out there, it was natural, and I knew I could go make plays.”
However, Thornhill signed initially to be the team’s third safety, not their starting free safety. That opportunity will be there for the taking in training camp, though the Steelers have other options to consider in the free agency market.
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.