Inside linebacker Justin Strnad will be a valuable backup and core player on special teams for the Denver Broncos in 2025.
One of the roster position groups on the Denver Broncos that sports the most intrigue this training camp is inside linebacker.
The Broncos made a splash and signed Dre Greenlaw to a multi-year contract in free agency. Greenlaw is slated to start alongside veteran Alex Singleton. If healthy, the two could be a formidable duo in the middle of the Broncos’ defense. However, both are returning from significant injuries, and their ability to stay healthy for the duration of the season is a big concern for many fans across Broncos Country.
If any of them were to miss time, it’s likely that veteran Justin Strnad would fill the void like he did last season. A fifth-round draft selection in 2020, Strnad missed his rookie season due to a broken wrist suffered early on in training camp. Over the next three seasons, Strnad saw limited defensive snaps but became a fixture for the franchise on special teams. When his rookie deal was up, the Broncos re-signed the former Wake Forest Demon Deacon despite having interest from multiple teams.
Last year, Strnad played all 17 games with 8 starts and saw the most defensive snaps of his career. He finished the 2024 season with 73 tackles, 3 sacks, 8 tackles for loss. This past free agency period, the Broncos signed Strnad to another one-year deal worth up to $2.7 million—signifying he will be a top backup and special teams’ player for the team this season.
Justin Strnad has been a true bright spot for Denver’s defense since the injury to Alex Singleton.
(Credit to Zach Allen, DJ Jones, and Malcolm Roach for eating up blockers in the majority of these clips keeping Strnad clean) pic.twitter.com/ML9pabjVkV— Frankie Abbott (@FrankiesFilm) October 17, 2024
Player Profile
Age: 28 | Experience: Fifth Year | College: Wake Forest | Height: 6’3” | Weight: 235 pounds
Arm Length: 31-1/4” | Hand Size: 9-1/8” | Broad: 9’5” | Vertical: 29” | Bench: N/A
40-yard dash: 4.74 seconds | 20-Yard Shuttle: 4.49 seconds
Justin Strnad’s 2025 outlook with the Broncos
In four seasons with the Broncos, Strnad has appeared in 67 games with 13 starts. He has racked up 119 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, and 3 sacks. Overall, he has played 1,205 special teams’ snaps and 992 snaps defensively.
Every team in the National Football League needs a guy like Strnad. I’m glad the team re-signed him this offseason. He’s a valuable backup who can start when called upon and also will play a key role in the game’s third phase. I thought Strnad played admirably last season when placed in the starting lineup, though one particular outlet didn’t seem to think so.
Pro Football Focus gave him a 55.5 overall grade which ranked 140th of 189 linebackers. His 68.1 pass rush grade ranked 36th, his run defense grade of 61.7 ranked 111th, and his coverage grade of 51.5 was 131st. While I agree he appeared to struggle down the stretch in pass coverage, I thought he was light year’s better as a run stopper than they gave him credit for, especially compared to how he looked in 2021.
Final Thoughts
Based on his experience and skillset, Strnad is a lock for the final 53-man roster. If either Greenlaw or Singleton miss time, I’d peg him as the likely next man up to start if need be. With the recent news regarding Drew Sanders, Strnad’s importance to the team for the upcoming season is even higher. Behind him, second-year player Levelle Bailey and several undrafted rookie free agents will be battling it out for the other backup spots.