ENGLEWOOD, Colo — The Denver Broncos haven't had the most exciting approach to free agency this season, but give them this: They know how to pull off a last-minute deal to bring back their own.
Denver reached agreement Tuesday with inside linebacker/special teams player Justin Strnad on a one-year deal.
Earlier in the day, Strnad had reached agreement with the Carolina Panthers on a one-year deal -- where he was to be reunited with defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero and linebacker teammate Josey Jewell -- only to have a change of heart.
It was a similar switch that Broncos kicker Wil Lutz made last week. Lutz had a three-year agreement with Jacksonville, only for Broncos head coach Sean Payton to apparently step up and help sway the kicker back to Denver on a two-year, $8.4 million deal.
Broncos tight end Adam Trautman was also minutes away from reaching agreement with another team when he was persuaded back to Denver on a two-year, $7.5 million deal.
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Strnad was a Broncos fifth-round draft pick in 2020 who suffered a season-ending wrist injury during training camp of his rookie season. He was coming on as a starting inside linebacker in 2021, but he hasn't played that position since the Denver defense couldn't stop the run against the Cleveland Browns in a Week 7 loss of the 2021 season.
However, Strnad has been a core special team player the past three seasons, and his ability to run well for a 6-foot-3, 235-pound player makes him a valuable asset the Broncos didn't want to lose. Strnad said late in the last season he also wants a chance to get back to contributing as an inside linebacker again.
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