KC Chiefs players nearing end of their contract years

Juan Thornhill

Juan Thornhill is an interesting case study for teams looking for potential safety help. The former second-round pick was an instant starter for the Chiefs and looked like a young star in the making in his first year in the league with 3 interceptions, including one for a score, and the instincts to handle an immediate workload.

Unfortunately, Thornhill went down with an ACL injury in the final week of that regular season and he was never quite the same in ensuing seasons. The timing of that injury meant his recuperation bled into his sophomore year, and instead of making the leap that many players do in their second season, he was still trying to get back into form and trust his body again.

Coming into this year, Thornhill predicted that he was going to be an All-Pro by season’s end. That’s not going to happen, but Thornhill has looked the part on occasion as an impactful talent in the secondary, especially in excellent games against the Cardinals and 49ers this year. The consistency, however, isn’t there and it’s hard to believe the Chiefs are going to pony up to keep him around given their second-round investment in Bryan Cook.

It’s hard to imagine Thornhill back in K.C. after this year unless the market for his services is much softer than expected. While he won’t break the bank and safety can be a muted position on the open market, Thornhill should find suitors willing to give him a multi-year deal as a still-young safety with championship experience.