2019 NFL Draft: Kansas City Chiefs select Juan Thornhill in second round

The Kansas City Chiefs have made their second selection in the 2019 NFL Draft with the announcement of Juan Thornhill in the second round.

The Kansas City Chiefs have made their second pick in the 2019 NFL Draft with the announced selection of Juan Thornhill, a safety out of Virginia, in the second round.

The Chiefs have needed some significant help in the secondary and his versatility will allow him to play at safety or cornerback, which is good news for a unit that’s been very thin as the team remakes their defense.

Thornhill is likely one of the first of multiple additions to the secondary as the Chiefs put their full draft class together. At cornerback, the Chiefs have brought in Bashaud Breeland and at safety, the team has imported Tyrann Mathieu in free agency. Both of those players are important, but the team has been lacking overall talent and depth, especially at corner. They have Breeland, Kendall Fuller, Charvarius Ward and now Thornhill if they want to play him there.

Thornhill was a three-year starter for the Cavaliers and showed a strong nose for the football in that time. He had 13 interceptions and 26 passes defended in his three seasons in the ACC, including six picks this last season. He also had 98 total tackles this last season.

Thornhill has nice size at 6’0, 205 pounds and ran the 40-yard dash in 4.42 seconds, which placed Thornhill among the top 10 defensive backs in the Combine. He was also second overall in bench press reps with 21.

The Chiefs will pick one more time on Day 2 if things go according to the current draft order with the No. 84 pick overall—a third round selection.