Browns to cut former Super Bowl-winning defender who couldn’t pan out as a free agent signing
The Cleveland Browns are starting the week with a roster move that wasn’t expected to come, at least not yet. Cleveland signed S Juan Thornhill as a free agent two offseasons ago and had high hopes for the former Super Bowl winner. Cleveland hoped that he would replace John Johnson III, who was another failed […]
The Cleveland Browns are starting the week with a roster move that wasn’t expected to come, at least not yet.
Cleveland signed S Juan Thornhill as a free agent two offseasons ago and had high hopes for the former Super Bowl winner. Cleveland hoped that he would replace John Johnson III, who was another failed safety signing.
After two seasons in Cleveland, Thornhill will be looking for a new NFL team in free agency shortly. Cleveland has cut Thornhill with one year remaining on his contract, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.
With the move, Cleveland save $3.4 million in cap this year by designating the move as a post-June 1. There was $7 million remaining on the three-year, $21 million deal that Thornhill signed two seasons ago.
In 2024, the Browns season didn’t go as planned and that can be said about Thornhill as well. In 11 games, Thornhill had 49 tackles and a grade of 65.5, according to Pro Football Focus. Thornhill missed six games in each of his two seasons with Cleveland.
Thornhill’s effort with the Browns was visually questionable at best and that could be seen on the tape. After having an interception in each of his first four seasons, Thornhill didn’t record one in 22 games with the Browns.
Unless Cleveland thinks Ronnie Hickman can be the starter back there, they’re going to need to address safety this off-season now too. Another thing the Browns have to handle in what is a crucial offseason.
Thornhill enters free agency at age 29 and with six years of NFL experience. Expect there to be a solid market for the now-former Browns safety, who just was never a fit.
