The NFL offseason always brings a swirl of roster changes, new faces in unexpected places, and a fresh batch of optimism for teams looking to make their mark. This year, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Miami Dolphins are at the center of two of the league’s most intriguing secondary shakeups, with Juan Thornhill and Rasul Douglas each stepping into new roles and fresh challenges as the 2025 season approaches.
For the Pittsburgh Steelers, the defensive backfield has undergone a near-total transformation. Just a year ago, the Steelers’ secondary was anchored by familiar names like Minkah Fitzpatrick. Fast forward to August 2025, and the only returning starters are Joey Porter Jr. and DeShon Elliott. The rest of the unit has been completely overhauled, with the additions of Jalen Ramsey, Darius Slay, Brandin Echols, Chuck Clark, and, perhaps most notably, Juan Thornhill.
Thornhill, a 2019 second-round pick, is no stranger to big moments. Over his six-year career, he’s started 74 of 87 games, including a productive stint with the Kansas City Chiefs where he intercepted eight passes in four seasons. But after signing with the Cleveland Browns in 2023, injuries hampered his impact, causing him to miss 12 games over two years and limiting his production to just four passes defensed and one tackle for loss. At one point, the struggles even earned him the less-than-flattering nickname "Jog Thornhill."
Yet, the Steelers saw value in the veteran safety this offseason, inking him to a one-year, $3 million contract in March. The move initially seemed like a depth play, especially with Fitzpatrick still on the roster. However, everything changed when Pittsburgh orchestrated a blockbuster trade, sending Fitzpatrick to Miami in exchange for the star corner Jalen Ramsey. Suddenly, Thornhill was thrust into a starting role, expected to play the majority of defensive snaps.
"Free safety, the way that they get their interceptions and produce their splash is with tipped balls and overthrows, and you get those when you’re playing man coverage," said Steelers analyst Mike DeFabo during a recent appearance on 93.7 The Fan. "I could see a year where Juan Thornhill has a splashy season."
It’s an assessment that fits the Steelers’ new defensive identity. Head coach Mike Tomlin and his staff have signaled a shift toward more aggressive man coverage, betting that their revamped secondary can create turnovers and game-changing plays. With Ramsey and Slay locking down the outside, and Thornhill patrolling the back end, Pittsburgh’s defense is banking on speed, experience, and a little bit of unpredictability.
"If Juan Thornhill is your weak link on defense, I actually think that that’s good enough," DeFabo added. "I don’t think he’s going to be an All-Pro or a Pro Bowler or even a plus starter, but I think that he is going to be a serviceable starter that I think is going to produce more of a splash than even people would expect, based on the schematics, based on how the Steelers are going to play things."
The Steelers’ front office was also mindful of the compensatory draft pick formula, targeting veterans like Thornhill who wouldn’t count against their calculations. The result is a secondary that’s not just new—it’s loaded with proven players who have plenty to prove.
Meanwhile, in Miami, a different kind of transition is underway. Rasul Douglas, a 31-year-old cornerback who spent the last two seasons with the Buffalo Bills, is learning the ropes in a Dolphins defense that’s nothing like what he’s played before. After just his second practice with the team, Douglas was candid about the adjustment period.
"Nothing like it," Douglas said, describing the Dolphins’ scheme. "A little bit. From Green Bay, like two plays, maybe. But anything else I ain’t never played half of it. So, yeah, I was out there running. I was messing up doing all types of stuff wrong. But the guys understand. I’m just getting here so they kind of give me some leeway."
Douglas isn’t guaranteed a starting job—head coach Mike McDaniel has made it clear that every position must be earned in training camp. But as the oldest player in a young defensive backs room, Douglas brings a steadying presence and a wealth of experience, even if he prefers to lead by example rather than words.
"I’m not really a talker but if you watch me at practice or watching film, you may want that to be a part of your game," Douglas explained. "I lead by example."
The Dolphins, for their part, are a team on the rise. Douglas is embracing the challenge of joining a playoff contender, and he’s particularly excited about facing his former team, the Buffalo Bills. The rivalry between Miami and Buffalo has only intensified in recent years, and Douglas knows that the path to the AFC East title runs straight through his old teammates.
"We’ve just got to find a way to beat them," Douglas said of the Bills. "That’s the team in this division. Everyone knows you have to go through them." When asked about facing quarterback Josh Allen, a familiar adversary, Douglas grinned: "It will be fun. It will be fun."
There’s also a personal connection that adds a twist to Douglas’s Miami journey: his friendship with Minkah Fitzpatrick, a fellow New Jersey native. "Me and Minkah have been working out together since I was young," Douglas shared. "He was a (New) Jersey guy like me, in high school." With Fitzpatrick now in Miami, the Dolphins’ secondary boasts both talent and chemistry forged long before the NFL spotlight.
As the preseason unfolds, all eyes will be on how quickly Douglas adapts to the Dolphins’ unique scheme and whether Thornhill can deliver the "splashy" plays that Pittsburgh’s defense so desperately craves. Both teams have made bold moves, betting that veteran savvy and fresh energy can elevate their secondaries from question marks to strengths.
For the Steelers, the gamble on Thornhill is about more than just filling a roster spot. It’s a statement of intent—a belief that the right scheme and the right opportunity can unlock the playmaker who once helped the Chiefs win big games. For the Dolphins, Douglas represents both a bridge to the past and a key to the future, a leader who’s eager to prove that age is just a number in a league obsessed with youth.
With the regular season just around the corner, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Will Thornhill make the most of his shot in Pittsburgh? Can Douglas adjust in time to help Miami dethrone the Bills? The answers are coming soon, and these revamped secondaries are ready to write the next chapter in their teams’ defensive legacies.