The Steelers are signing safety Juan Thornhill to a one-year contract, a team source confirms with DK Pittsburgh Sports. The financial details are not yet known.

Thornhill, 29, was a second-round pick of the Chiefs in the 2019 draft. He played his four-year rookie contract in Kansas City, then spent the past two years with the Browns. 

With the Chiefs, Thornhill grew into one of the game's better safeties. He racked up 234 tackles, five tackles for loss, one sack, eight interceptions, 20 passes defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in those four seasons.

However, calf injuries plagued Thornhill's time in Cleveland. He was limited to only 22 games in 2023 and 2024, and his production took a huge step back after joining the Browns. While he was still a productive tackler (103 tackles in those 22 games), he failed to record an interception and only had four passes defensed.

This could be a sneaky good signing for the Steelers. They already have a great starting tandem with Minkah Fitzpatrick and DeShon Elliott. Adding Thornhill to the mix gives the Steelers a possible high-reward option as a third safety. When healthy, Thornhill has been productive. The injuries are concerning, but the Steelers don't need him to start 17 games because they already have Fitzpatrick and Elliott.

The Steelers needed to add a third safety to the mix, so this solves that need.