Analysts tend to compare players coming into the NFL Draft to players already in the NFL. Juan Thornhill, who was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs, received a glowing comparison.
Lance Zierlien is one of NFL.com's many draft analysts. He went through and individually broke down each prospect and came up with an NFL comparison for each one.
For Thornhill, Zierlien landed on HaHa Clinton-Dix as his NFL equivalent. Not too bad for a guy the Chiefs took on the second day of the 2019 NFL Draft.
Thornhill figures to be behind Tyrann Mathieu on the depth chart and will be a contributor on special teams or maybe sub packages on defense. Regardless, his skill set could enable him to become another version of Clinton-Dix.
Clinton-Dix has spent five seasons in the NFL since being selected 21st by the Green Bay Packers in the 2014 NFL Draft. In those five seasons, Clinton-Dix has accumulated 14 interceptions, 28 pass deflections, 456 total tackles, and four forced fumbles.
Although the Packers decided to trade the talented safety to the Washington Redskins last season, the Chiefs would love for Thornhill to bring them the same level of production as Clinton-Dix offered in Green Bay.
Before the draft, Thornhill was one of the highest-rated safeties among analysts. The Virginia product was selected to a team which already has a free safety. Chiefs fans shouldn't fret — Thornhill can contribute in other ways for the team to succeed.
Furthermore, Thornhill could be the eventual successor of Mathieu at free safety. If he ends up being similar to Clinton-Dix, the Chiefs will have gained one of the steals of the draft.
Follow Us
Subscribe