Browns’ rival makes decision that brings up painful reminder to fans about past mistake the team made in free agency
The former starter for the Browns is moving on.
The Cleveland Browns have had several players on their defense take a step forward this season who weren’t exactly household names before. Former undrafted free agent S Ronnie Hickman is one of those players and he wouldn’t have had the opportunity if it weren’t for an offseason move by the Browns.
Cleveland moved on from S Juan Thornhill back in the offseason and that opened up a starting safety spot opposite of Grant Delpit. Both of Cleveland’s safeties have played well and the position is in a better place than when Thornhill was on the team. Thornhill signed with the Steelers as a free agent and their latest move with the veteran safety serves as a reminder to Browns fans.
Cleveland is still paying a player who was just cut by a divisional rival
The Steelers opted to part ways with Thornhill and the 30-year-old safety is now heads to waivers before being free to sign with any team. Due to the three-year, $21 million deal that the Browns signed Thornhill to back in 2023, he will count as $5.7 million on the salary cap for the 2026 season. The deal that Thornhill signed in Cleveland gave him $14 million guaranteed.
Thornhill spent two seasons with the Browns before being cut and he played in 11 games each season. Injuries played a factor in Thornhill’s time in Cleveland, but fans quickly grew tired of the effort level that he put out on the field at times on Sundays. Combine that with the comments that Thornhill has made since leaving Cleveland and fans really don’t feel great about him. Thornhill’s best season with the Browns was in 2023 when he made 53 tackles, but he was never able to intercept a pass in a Browns uniform.
Cleveland took a swing on Thornhill as a two-time Super Bowl champion who could come in and fill the void left by another failed free agent signing John Johnson III. Signing Thornhill didn’t work out, but the opportunity with him leaving has been a good thing with how Hickman has played this season. The former Buckeye has 54 tackles and a pair of interceptions in nine games so far this season.
Thornhill’s Steelers career ends with one start in nine games played with 38 tackles. When free agent signings don’t work out and you have to move on early, there’s dead cap to deal with. The Browns are dealing with that in Thornhill’s case and it’s doable because of the amount. In some cases, the dead cap is simply too outrageous to move on and the Deshaun Watson contract is a good example of that.
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