Tag: Justin Strnad

Contract details for Broncos’ 3 recent free agent signings

New Broncos signees Matt Peart, Cody Barton and Justin Strnad will combine to count $4.9 million against the salary cap in 2024.

Before agreeing to a two-year deal with wide receiver Josh Reynolds this week, the Denver Broncos previously inked one-year contracts with offensive tackle Matt Peart and linebackers Cody Barton and Justin Strnad.

Terms of those three contracts are now known.

Barton received a $1.33 million base salary, a $1 million signing bonus and a $170,000 per-game roster bonus. That will give him a total salary cap hit of $2.46 million. His $1.33 million salary is guaranteed.

Strnad received a $1,055,000 base salary and a $250,000 signing bonus, giving him a total salary cap hit of $1,305,000. He has $500,000 guaranteed.

Peart received a $1,125,000 base salary and a $167,500 signing bonus, giving him a total salary cap hit of $1,152,500. He has $200,000 guaranteed.

Combined, those three players will account for $4,917,500 worth of salary cap space if they make the roster this summer. Before accounting for the Reynolds contract, OverTheCap.com estimates the Broncos have about $20.4 million in remaining cap space.

Reynolds’ two-year contract is said to be worth “up to” $14 million, but his base salary will be lower than $7 million per season. We will share Reynold’s contract details on Broncos Wire when they become available.

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Former Panthers LB Kamu Grugier-Hill agrees to terms with Vikings

Former Panthers LB/emergency K Kamu Grugier-Hill is reportedly headed to Minnesota.

The Carolina Panthers just lost their emergency kicker.

According to Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune, linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill has agreed to terms with the Minnesota Vikings. The 29-year-old defender, who has also been a reliable presence on special teams, spent the 2023 campaign with the Carolina Panthers.

Part of Gruger-Hill’s special-teams presence for the Panthers came on a few kickoffs . . . as the actual kicker. In total, he registered 297 of his 700 snaps  on the unit this past season.

On defense, the ninth-year veteran filled in up the middle to help patch up an oft-injured group. Grugier-Hill recorded five starts and amassed a sack, an interception and 53 combined tackles—the second-highest mark of his career.

Carolina seemingly had their replacement for Grugier-Hill in Justin Strnad, who reportedly agreed to terms on a deal with the team on Tuesday. Like Gruiger-Hill, Strnad has stocked up some experience as a special teamer.

But the 27-year-old linebacker had a change of heart and is expected to sign back to the Denver Broncos.

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After nearly signing with Panthers, LB Justin Strnad returns to Broncos instead

After nearing signing with the Panthers, LB Justin Strnad decided to return to the Broncos instead.

Denver Broncos free agent linebacker Justin Strnad agreed to terms on a one-year deal with the Carolina Panthers on Tuesday, according to a report from The Athletic‘s Joe Person.

That deal would have seen Strnad reunited with former teammate Josey Jewell and defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, but after initially making a verbal agreement to join the Panthers, Strnad changed his mind.

Strnad had “a change of heart” and returned to the Broncos on a one-year deal on Tuesday night, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.

Interestingly, this is not the first time this has happened this offseason.

Last week, kicker Wil Lutz initially agreed to a three-year deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars on the first day of the NFL’s free agency negotiating window. Before making anything official with Jacksonville, Lutz changed his mind and returned to Denver on a two-year deal instead.

Broncos tight end Adam Trautman was also close to joining another team before Denver got him back on a two-year contract, according to KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis. Broncos coach Sean Payton doesn’t seem to mind letting things go right down to the wire.

Strnad, 27, entered the league as a fifth-round pick out of Wake Forest in 2020. Now entering his fifth season in Denver, Strnad has emerged as a key special teams player for the Broncos. He played 86% of the team’s special teams snaps last season.

We are tracking all of Denver’s free agency moves on Broncos Wire.

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Justin Strnad returns to Broncos after agreeing to deal with Panthers

LB Justin Strnad’s Panthers career lasted about three hours.

Sike!

At 7:17 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Joe Person of The Athletic reported that the Carolina Panthers agreed to terms with former Denver Broncos linebacker Justin Strnad. But now, about three hours later, Strnad is no longer a “former” Denver Broncos linebacker.

Per NFL Network insider Mike Garafolo, the 27-year-old has had a change of heart and will, instead, return to the Broncos on a one-year deal.

Denver selected the Wake Forest University product in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL draft. After sitting out what would have been his rookie campaign due to a wrist injury, Strnad debuted in the 2021 season—where he made five starts over 16 contests.

Strnad posted 36 combined tackles and a quarterback hit that year, both of which remain as career-highs. He played exclusively on special teams for the Broncos in 2022 and 2023.

The Panthers, however, at least came away with wide receiver David Moore—who agreed to terms around the same time Strnad did.

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Panthers reportedly expected to sign former Broncos LB Justin Strnad

The Panthers are reportedly adding former Broncos LB Josh Strnad.

The Carolina Panthers are making things even more familiar for defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero.

As first reported by Joe Person of The Athletic on Tuesday evening, the team is expected to sign free-agent linebacker Justin Strnad. Strnad, who comes over from the Denver Broncos, played the 2022 season under Evero.

Denver selected the Wake Forest University product in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL draft. After sitting out what would have been his rookie campaign due to a wrist injury, Strnad debuted in the 2021 season—where he made five starts over 16 contests.

Strnad posted 36 combined tackles and a quarterback hit that year, both of which remain as career-highs. He played exclusively on special teams for the Broncos in 2022 and 2023.

Right around the time of Person’s report, the Panthers announced another addition—former Seattle Seahawks and Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver David Moore. Moore returns for a second stint with the organization.

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Broncos’ updated ILB depth chart after losing Jonas Griffith

Broncos rookie Drew Sanders might be in line for more playing time following the Jonas Griffith injury.

After losing Jonas Griffith to a season-ending torn ACL, the Denver Broncos signed Austin Ajiake to add some more depth at inside linebacker.

Alex Singleton and Josey Jewell remain the team’s starters at ILB. Behind them, rookie third-round pick Drew Sanders has a good chance to emerge as the top backup ILB following the Griffith injury.

In addition to Sanders, the Broncos also have fourth-year special teams contributor Justin Strnad, undrafted rookie Seth Benson, the newly signed Ajiake and Ray Wilborn (although it’s still unclear if Denver plans to use Wilborn primarily on the inside or on the outside).

Here is our projected updated ILB depth chart going into the first week of preseason.

ILB1 Josey Jewell Drew Sanders Seth Benson
ILB2 Alex Singleton Justin Strnad Ray Wilborn Austin Ajiake

The Broncos are expected to release an official depth chart ahead of their preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals sometime this week.

Broncos roster series: No. 40, ILB Justin Strnad

After playing 405 snaps on special teams last season, Justin Strnad will aim to impress the Broncos’ new coaching staff this summer.

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Broncos Wire’s 90-man offseason roster series continues today with a look at fourth-year inside linebacker Justin Strnad, No. 40.

Before the Broncos: Strnad (6-3, 235 pounds) played college football at Wake Forest, earning honorable mention All-ACC recognition in 2018 and 2019. As a team captain in 2019, Strnad totaled 69 tackles, four pass breakups, two sacks and one interception in seven games before suffering a season-ending injury. He later ran a 40-yard dash in 4.74 seconds and a 20-yard shuttle in 4.49 seconds at the NFL combine.

Broncos tenure: Denver picked Strnad in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL draft. After missing his rookie season with a wrist injury, Strnad played in 16 games in 2021, earning five starts. He dressed for all 17 games last year but played exclusively on special teams, earning 405 snaps in that role.

Chance to make the 53-man roster: Unless the Broncos decide to carry five inside linebackers on the active roster, Strnad will likely be the odd man out at the position. Josey Jewell, Alex Singleton, Drew Sanders and Jonas Griffith all seem to be locks at ILB, which might knock Strnad down to the practice squad in 2023.

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Broncos’ updated ILB depth chart following the NFL draft

After drafting Drew Sanders, the Broncos have great inside linebacker depth on paper.

ILB1 ILB2 Depth
Josey Jewell Alex Singleton Justin Strnad
Jonas Griffith Drew Sanders Ray Wilborn
Seth Benson

There are no surprises on the Denver Broncos’ projected inside linebacker depth chart following the 2023 NFL draft.

Josey Jewell and Alex Singleton are both returning as projected starters, and the team has quality depth behind them. Drew Sanders joins the club as a third-round pick out of Arkansas and while he projects as a future starter, he seems unlikely to start over Jewell or Singleton in Week 1.

Jonas Griffith is also back after starting eight games as an injury fill-in last year. Having Sanders and Griffith, arguably two starting-caliber LBs, available as backups is great for the team’s depth.

Last year, Denver carried four inside linebackers on its initial 53-man roster. If that’s the plan again this year, Justin Strnad, Ray Wilborn and undrafted rookie Seth Benson would be the odd men out. They could all be candidates for the practice squad, though.

The Broncos will set a 53-man roster in late August.

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Broncos activate three players from Reserve/COVID-19 list

Broncos QB Drew Lock has cleared COVID-19 protocol and will return to practice this week.

The Denver Broncos have activated quarterback Drew Lock, inside linebacker Justin Strnad and cornerback Michael Ojemudia from the Reserve/COVID-19 list, the team announced Saturday.

Strnad now returns to the 53-man roster, but Lock will be a roster exemption until later this week. Ojemudia has not yet been activated from injured reserve to the active roster, so he will remain on IR.

After activating those three players, the Broncos still have offensive lineman Austin Schlottmann on the Reserve/COVID-19 list and outside linebacker Pita Taumoepenu remains on the Practice Squad/COVID-19 list.

Schlottmann does not currently count against the 53-man roster and Taumoepenu does not count against the 16-player practice squad.

Denver’s offensive coordinator, Pat Shurmur, also missed the team’s last game because of COVID-19 protocol. The team has not yet announced if Shurmur is expected to return this week.

After a bye in Week 11, the Broncos will return to action in Week 12 when they host the Los Angeles Chargers at Empower Field at Mile High.

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