Report: Eagles hosted play-making safety prospect on pre-draft visit

Virginia safety Juan Thornhill is one of the 30 prospects from the 2019 NFL Draft to be hosted by the Eagles for a visit in Philadelphia, according to Andrew DiCecco.

Thornhill is play-making defensive back. He finished his four years of college with 208 total tackles, 26 passes defensed, 13 interceptions, 12 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, and one forced fumble.

BGN’s Michael Kist previously wrote about Thornhill:

Nabbing 13 interceptions in the last three years and 6 in 2018 should land you on any “playmaker” list. Opinions will be mixed on Thornhill as he isn’t a particularly splashy player with high-end traits, but it’s hard to argue with that type of ball production. You also can’t knock him for versatility; Thornhill played in a variety of alignments throughout his career at Virginia. Outside corner, nickel corner, linebacker, free safety and so on, he has experience wearing different hats. Thornhill had a quiet week at the Senior Bowl, as did just about every safety there. Overall, he’s still a solid prospect with the potential to see his name called on Day 2 of the NFL Draft.

Additional scouting report from NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein:

Three-year starter who proved he could bring his instincts and ball skills with him from cornerback to safety in 2018. Thornhill’s size and cover talent should allow defensive coordinators the freedom to deploy him around the field in a variety of ways depending on the matchups and his running mate at safety. While he could garner consideration as a corner, safety gives him his best opportunity to become an early starter.

These descriptions make Thornhill sound like a player in the Malcolm Jenkins mold. The Eagles could select Thornhill with one of their two second-round picks and hope he beats Andrew Sendejo out as a third safety in 2019. Thornhill could potentially take over as a full-time starter in 2020 with Jenkins turning 32 in December and Rodney McLeod set to be a free agent next year.

Highlights video:

Spider graph via Mockdraftable:

Complete list of known Philadelphia Eagles draft visits

Virginia S Juan Thornhill

Houston CB Isaiah Johnson - [Click here]

Houston DT Ed Oliver - [Click here]

Maryland S Darnell Savage (Local) - [Click here]

Boston College OL Chris Lindstrom - [Click here]

Oklahoma OT Cody Ford - [Click here]

Ole Miss WR A.J. Brown - [Click here]

Penn State CB Amani Oruwariye - [Click here]

Arkansas G/C Hjalte Froholdt - [Click here]

TCU DE L.J. Collier - [Click here]

Old Dominion DE Oshane Ximines - [Click here]

Michigan RB Karan Higdon - [Click here]

Florida S Chauncey Gardner-Johnson - [Click here]

Alabama State OT Tytus Howard - [Click here]