With rookie minicamps already in the books and the NFL Draft in the rearview mirror, teams are sifting through the lost and found bin to make final roster additions before summer activities. During the free agency period, the Pittsburgh Steelers signed former Browns safety Juan Thornhill. Now, Cleveland is returning the favor.
On Monday, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reported the Cleveland Browns have signed former Steelers safety Damontae Kazee. Ironically, the Steelers and Browns completed an AFC North safety swap. Now, Thornhill and Kazee will be on the opposite sidelines for these divisional contests this year.
Kazee spent the past three seasons in Pittsburgh, making 14 starts in 38 games played. Despite being a part-time player, Kazee racked up five interceptions during his time with the Steelers while recording 112 total tackles.
Before his tenure in Pittsburgh, Kazee spent four years with the Atlanta Falcons and a year with the Dallas Cowboys. His best season came back in 2018 when he led the NFL with seven interceptions in 16 games. In 2024 with the Steelers, Kazee saw just 289 defensive snaps in 15 games, making one start.
The Pittsburgh Steelers upgraded at safety without Damontae Kazee
Damontae Kazee is in his early 30s, but Juan Thornhill is no spring chicken in the secondary. The veteran and former second-round pick of the Kansas City Chiefs will turn 30 years old early in the 2025 season. While neither safety is expected to be an X-Factor for their respective team, the Pittsburgh Steelers upgraded at the position.
Thornhill was heavily criticized for a lack of effort at times last year, and with Mike Tomlin still steering the ship, that won't fly in Pittsburgh. Much like Kazee, who entered the NFL two years prior in 2017, Thornhill was known for his impressive ball skills early in his career. Unfortunately, the veteran safety hasn't recorded an interception since the 2022 season despite making 22 starts since then.
Still, Thornhill should be an upgrade over Kazee, who became a liability for the Pittsburgh Steelers over the past two seasons. Thornhill has played over 1,000 defensive snaps since 2023 and is a better athlete in the secondary. Coming out of Virginia in 2019, Thornhill ran a 4.42 while dropping jaws with a 44-inch vertical jump and a 141-inch broad jump.
While he's slowed down a bit over the years because of injuries, Thornhill's size and athletic profile will translate better in his old age than Kazee, who was 5'10'' and 184 pounds coming out of San Diego State and ran a 4.54 with a 34-inch vertical.
Upgrading the third safety spot was essential for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Cleveland Browns will now take their lumps with Damontae Kazee for the 2025 season.