Kansas City Chiefs safety Juan Thornhill is predicting big things for himself in 2022 and asked reporters to remember his All-Pro prediction.
There’s been no shortage of attention on the Kansas City Chiefs secondary this offseason with as much activity as there has been in reshaping it from one year to the next. However, in the midst of the transactions—the comings and goings of it all—one name has been largely overlooked in veteran safety Juan Thornhill.
Thornhill is likely fine with the lack of attention in the offseason, but he’s predicting things for himself once he’s on the field. On Tuesday, he told Chiefs reporters that he’s predicting an All-Pro season for himself.
Thornhill is coming into an interesting year for both himself and the Chiefs. It’s the final season on his rookie deal, which means Thornhill is in a contract year and ready to hit the open market for a lucrative payday next March. Many players seem to find some extra motivation in such a season, and Thornhill sounds like he’s ready to put up the requisite production to earn himself a nice paycheck.
If Thornhill can live up to his own expectations that he just put out there, he’ll have no shortage of suitors in free agency.
#Chiefs Juan Thornhill: “I’m expecting an all-pro season. I’m saying that right now. If y’all wanna write that down, record it, whatever.” pic.twitter.com/Zg1wmb6pa1
— Aaron Ladd (@aaronladdtv) June 14, 2022
If Thornhill’s expectations are accurate, it’s also going to help a Chiefs secondary that’s in flux in the last few months. Tyrann Mathieu is gone and has been replaced by Justin Reid. Daniel Sorensen has been replaced by second-round pick Bryan Cook. Armani Watts has been replaced by former Bears safety Deon Bush. Thornhill is the lone holdover of any safety with any ounce of real experience in Steve Spagnuolo’s defense, which makes him quite valuable this season.
Thornhill began his career with an outstanding rookie season that gave way to a torn ACL. Since then, Thornhill’s dynamism has waned and expectations have shifted. If another year from such a devastating injury, however, have gifted him with greater health, then Chiefs Kingdom might see the sort of safety play that Thornhill looked capable of providing. Two years ago, no one would have flinched at the idea of Thornhill as a future All-Pro. Now we can only hope that’s still a potentially true statement.