Juan Thornhill's tenure with the Cleveland Browns didn't exactly end as hoped.
The Browns signed Thornhill, a former safety with the Kansas City Chiefs, in free agency before the 2023 NFL season as an offseason addition intended to provide a higher level of productivity and championship experience for a young secondary.
Two years later, however, the Browns decided to cut ties with Thornhill before he entered the third and final year of his original three-year, $21 million deal.
Thornhill's tenure with the Browns was marred by (calf) injuries and a questionable effort on the field. At one point, Thornhill even apologized in November for his play, especially after being called out for a pitiful display against the New Orleans Saints. Thornhill said, "That's just not me and that'll never happen again."
Juan Thornhill is going to have to provide some good answers to very real concerns about his tenure in Cleveland.
Thornhill is a free agent in search of a home once again and the San Francisco 49ers are the latest team to offer him a potential place to land. Per NFL reporter Jordan Schultz, Thornhill is set to visit the team on Thursday, the second official day of free agency. (Though it should be noted that Thornhill has been available for much longer for teams to sign since his release.)
Thornhill first entered the National Football League with the Chiefs as their second-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. He proved himself to be a reliable starter for the team for four seasons, but the team made no real known overtures to bring him back following his final year in 2022.
The 49ers are undergoing a complete roster renovation, top to bottom, with notable departures on both sides of the ball. Thornhill could help fill the void created by the loss of Talanoa Hufanga. Then again, how much can the Niners depend on Thornhill to step up in such a way.
Cleveland fans will tell you that the answer is not likely, but Thornhill is still only 29,. In a league that often plays three-safety sets for most defenses most of the time, his skill set should find him some defense to offer him a shot for at least the 2025 season if not beyond.
Thornhill was never a Pro Bowl performer even with the Chiefs in his early years, but he's been a quality starter for a number of years. But he's going to have to answer questions about his tenure in Cleveland and prove he's healthy once more.
