KC Chiefs: Juan Thornhill tries recruiting Jerick McKinnon to Browns

Free agent running back Jerick McKinnon was the Kansas City Chiefs best backfield receiving threat in 2022. Now, his former teammate wants him in Cleveland.

The Kansas City Chiefs have been slowly but surely rounding out their 2023 roster. A new wave of signings will join the team after the 2023 NFL Draft, and Chiefs fans certainly hope running back Jerick McKinnon is a part of that wave. The veteran running back won over fans, with electric catches out of the backfield, chemistry with quarterback Patrick Mahomes, and game-saving pass blocking. But now, one of McKinnon’s former teammates wants him with the Cleveland Browns.

Safety Juan Thornhill, who had a career year in 2022 with the Chiefs, made his desires known on Twitter Friday.

McKinnon recorded 512 receiving yards and another 291 rushing yards in 2022. Not many fanbases get excited for a 31-year-old running back, but McKinnon had a career-best nine receiving touchdowns in 2022. That more than doubled his previous career total, seven in 87 games. He is not a bell-cow running back at this point, but the Browns and Chiefs could both use his valuable depth. Cleveland is trying to move on from Kareem Hunt and lost D’Ernest Johnson in free agency. Nick Chubb can only do so much, and they will need to round out the running back room this season.

The Browns are cash-strapped and have one of the barest draft cupboards this season. If McKinnon is looking for any sizeable contract, Cleveland will not likely give it to him. Thornhill can still shoot his shot though.

Thornhill signed a three-year, $21 million deal, with $14 million guaranteed, earlier in March. Thornhill played four seasons in Kansas City and started 52 games. The Chiefs drafted him in the 63rd overall from Virginia in 2019. He was a promising rookie starter but missed the Chiefs’ Super Bowl championship run that season after tearing an ACL in the final regular-season game of the year. Thornhill has 8 interceptions, 20 passes defended, and 234 combined tackles in his Kansas City career.