The Pittsburgh Steelers have made a lot of roster changes during the 2025 offseason. Both sides of the ball are going to look a lot different than they did in 2024, but it should be for the better. Many fans believe the ceiling is pretty high for the 2025 Steelers, and it will be interesting to see how the new pieces execute and contribute to winning. Pittsburgh is going to be relying on the defensive side of the ball, which is pretty normal for the Steelers. The unit seems to have the potential to be one of the best in the league, but it is going to come down to a few X-factors.
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Pittsburgh Steelers' safety Juan Thornhill during Day 2 of mandatory minicamp in 2025.
One of the interesting pieces to watch on defense for the Steelers is going to be safety Juan Thornhill. He was signed during free agency in 2025, and his role is going to be bigger than initially thought due to the Steelers trading away Minkah Fitzpatrick. That trade also brought in Jalen Ramsey, who is going to be playing some slot cornerback, as well as some free safety, while occasionally lining up on the outside. When Ramsey is not at free safety, it will likely be Thornhill, however his spot is not guaranteed.
Insider Ray Fittipaldo joined 93.7 The Fan on Friday, and he shared that Thornhill is in a legitimate position battle with Chuck Clark.
"Yeah, I think it's a legit battle," Fittipaldo said. "Both those guys have been making plays. Thornhill is always around the action, been in the right place at the right time for some picks. Especially in the two-minute drill for the last week or so. Clark is always around the ball too. I think Thornhill has a little bit of an edge right now, he came in a little bit late, but Clark is playing well [too]. He'll push him to the end of the preseason."
Pittsburgh signed Thornhill back in March, while the organization added Clark right as training camp was getting underway. Most fans probably thought he would just be a camp body, but he is now firmly in the running to be the team's top free safety. Clark played for the Baltimore Ravens for a handful of seasons, so he brings some of that AFC North attitude that the Steelers love on defense.
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Steelers' new safety Chuck Clark flexes while celebrating a big play he made during his tenure with the Baltimore Ravens.
Thornhill is currently leading the way at free safety, but things can change fast throughout the preseason and training camp. Thornhill is also looking to get his career back on track. It started off well while he was with the Kansas City Chiefs, but his time with the Cleveland Browns over the last two seasons was a bit difficult. His effort was questioned at times, but signing with one of the best organizations in the sport should reinvigorate his love for the game.
Clark has more playing experience than Thornhill, but he has spent less time with the organization which could be a disadvantage for him. He has had less time to make an impression on coaches, which is something he will look to do during the preseason games.
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Steelers' Jalen Ramsey during a home game while he played with the Los Angeles Rams.
Steelers' Position Battle Could Mostly Be Meaningless
Pittsburgh is going to likely have Ramsey, Joey Porter Jr., and Darius Slay on the field on every play on defense in 2025. In the team's base defense, it sounds like Ramsey will be lining up at free safety, while when Pittsburgh is in the nickel, Ramsey will move into the slot. This is the time when either Thornhill or Clark will be lined up at free safety. The two are essentially competing to be the top backup at safety, although they will be on the field a lot in certain personnel packages. It will be an interesting battle to watch as training camp continues, especially during the preseason games.
What do you think about the position battle occurring on defense? Let us know in the comments below!
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