Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz is mirrored in security Juan Thornhill’s visor throughout minicamp, Tuesday, June 11, 2024, in Berea. © Jeff Lange / USA TODAY NETWORK.
It’s a roster spot that would rapidly sneak up on the Minnesota Vikings.
Newly Launched Defender Might Activate Vikings’ Radar
That’s the protection place, and if Harrison Smith retires, along with Camryn Bynum leaving in free company, properly, Minnesota would want a security or two.
Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports activities.
So when the Cleveland Browns launched veteran Juan Thornhill on Monday, Vikings followers took discover. NFL Community‘s Mike Garafolo tweeted, “The Browns are releasing veteran S Juan Thornhill, sources say. The team and Thornhill’s camp spoke in recent days and the decision was made to part ways now, giving Thornhill a few weeks before free agency to find his next home. Thornhill had one year at $7m left on his deal.”
Thornhill will hit the open market and might signal wherever within the NFL. He doesn’t have to attend till March tenth, the start of free company’s “legal tampering.”
Normal supervisor Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and defensive coordinator Brian Flores. Picture Courtesy of @MattAnderson_8 on Twitter.
Right here’s Thornhill’s Professional Soccer Focus resume to this point:
2024: 65.5
2023: 66.5
2022: 72.7
2021: 70.1
2020: 59.0
2019: 71.8
And the taking part in resume for the previous 2nd-Spherical decide:
Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (2019–2022)
Cleveland Browns (2023-2024)
Thornhill can be a two-time Tremendous Bowl champion, serving to the Chiefs win the chip in 2019 and 2022. He does the whole lot pretty decently as a security — he’s versatile — and doesn’t have obvious weaknesses. Not way back, Thornhill was a relatively sought-after commodity, contemporary off the Tremendous Bowl wins with the Chiefs.
With out Thornhill, if Smith and Bynum left the Vikings, Minnesota would have in-house options in Josh Metellus, Jay Ward, and Theo Jackson readily available. Metellus and Ward are below contract for 2025, and Jackson is predicted to re-sign no matter Smith or Bynum’s standing.
Scott Galvin-Imagn Photos.
From free company, different safeties like Jevon Holland and Talanoa Hufanga might seize normal supervisor Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s consideration if Minnesota will not be all for Thornhill.
On Smith’s doable retirement, some new hints from KSTP’s Darren Wolfson point out that Smith might return for 12 months No. 14 in 2025. “Smith can still play, and I don’t think the Vikings need to break the bank to bring him back. They can figure out the money. I get it. He’s had to take pay cuts the last couple years. So, to me, there’s interest in him playing at a reasonable number. I just think it makes all sorts of sense,” Wolfson stated on SKOR North airwaves late final week.
“I continue to think there isn’t a downside to bringing back Harrison Smith.”
Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports activities
And Bynum’s return looks like a coin flip as of late February.
Thornhill will flip 30 within the fall.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the College of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his day by day YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The present options visitors, evaluation, and opinion on all issues associated to the purple group, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates again to 1996. Listed responsible pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doorways (the band). He follows the NBA as intently because the NFL.
All statistics supplied by Professional Soccer Reference / Stathead; all contractual info supplied by OverTheCap.com.
