Fansided

10 NFL players ready to become household names in 2020

By Russell S. Baxter

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 29: Running back Kenyan Drake #41 of the Arizona Cardinals carries the ball before he is stopped by linebacker Troy Reeder #51 of the Los Angeles Rams in the first quarter of the game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 29, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 29: Running back Kenyan Drake #41 of the Arizona Cardinals carries the ball before he is stopped by linebacker Troy Reeder #51 of the Los Angeles Rams in the first quarter of the game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 29, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /
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KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – DECEMBER 01: Juan Thornhill #22 of the Kansas City Chiefs runs for the end zone to score a touchdown after intercepting a ball intended for Tyrell Williams #16 of the Oakland Raiders during the second quarter in the game at Arrowhead Stadium on December 01, 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – DECEMBER 01: Juan Thornhill #22 of the Kansas City Chiefs runs for the end zone to score a touchdown after intercepting a ball intended for Tyrell Williams #16 of the Oakland Raiders during the second quarter in the game at Arrowhead Stadium on December 01, 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

4. S Juan Thornhill, Kansas City Chiefs

He was not a part of the team’s Super Bowl LIV championship run this past year. But 2019 second-round pick Juan Thornhill certainly earned a championship ring with the Kansas City Chiefs due to the fact that he played and started in all 16 regular-season games for Andy Reid’s title team a year ago.

The former University of Virginia standout certainly made his presence felt. He finished fifth on the club with 57 defensive tackles, to go along with five passes defensed, and also saw action on the kick coverage units. The rangy 6’0”, 205-pound defender ranked second on the club behind Tyrann Mathieu with three interceptions, returning a Derek Carr pick 46 yards for a score in a Week 13 victory over the visiting Raiders.

While quarterback Patrick Mahomes was obviously instrumental in the team’s 2019 Super Bowl campaign, Steve Spagnuolo’s defensive unit deserves plenty of credit. After a slow start, this unit came into its own and by year’s end, the Chiefs allowed only 308 points during the regular season (compared to 421 in 2018). Thornhill, who injured his knee in the regular-season finale against the Chargers and missed all three postseason games, was obviously a big part of the turnaround and looks to pick up where he left off when healthy in ’19.

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