ESPN's post-free-agency NFL power rankings has the Pittsburgh Steelers in an all-too-familiar position
The Pittsburgh Steelers started free agency with a bang, before quickly going back to their historic roots in free agency…A whole lot of nothing. Signing players on the fringe as opposed to becoming big money spenders, not much has changed outside of DK Metcalf and Darius Slay. Part of that is because of the giant […]
The Pittsburgh Steelers started free agency with a bang, before quickly going back to their historic roots in free agency…A whole lot of nothing.
Signing players on the fringe as opposed to becoming big money spenders, not much has changed outside of DK Metcalf and Darius Slay.
Part of that is because of the giant question mark at QB, one that has ESPN docking the Steelers in their power rankings…
Steelers rank 17th in ESPN Post Free Agency Power Rankings, Juan Thornhill named underrated signing
Injuries have kept Thornhill from playing a complete season since 2021, and he hasn't forced a turnover since a three-interception campaign in 2022 (his final year in Kansas City). But the 2019 second-round pick is a younger safety option with more upside than 31-year-old Damontae Kazee, who is an unrestricted free agent after three seasons in Pittsburgh. The rest of the safety position was a patchwork group in 2024, with Cameron Sutton moving from corner to safety and the brief return of former first-round pick Terrell Edmunds. Despite his injury risk, Thornhill gives the team quality secondary depth.
– Brooke Pryor, ESPN
The Steelers find themselves in a very similar spot, as the team didn't move between ESPN's last set of rankings and Monday's. It seems safe to assume that if and until Aaron Rodgers is in Pittsburgh, the Steelers will continue to rank in the bottom half of the league.
Regarding the Thornhill signing, I guess you can say it's a strong under-the-radar move, but the Steelers didn't have anything that knocked your socks off to begin with in terms of signings.
Thornhill will serve as a third safety in the Steelers' big nickel package, but he's little more than depth in the Steelers' secondary, evidenced by his one year deal. Oh, and he didn't exactly show his best effort with the Cleveland Browns…
When on the field, Thornhill’s play was inconsistent at best. The losing ways of the Browns did not help his case at all, as he appeared to be checked out at times. In 2024, Thornhill played his best ball toward the end of the season when he was a bit healthier. The veteran safety isn’t going to be a name that you call home about, but he is a player who will stick his nose in on any tackle.
Thornhill isn’t a ball-hawking safety but is a capable contributor when he is on the field. He has the winning experience from Kansas City and knows what it takes for a team to have a winning locker room. A vocal player that fans will love/hate depending on how he is doing on the field.
– Brandon Little, A to Z Sports Cleveland
