All of a sudden, Justin Strnad is a seven-year NFL veteran.

Strnad’s draft stock took a hit when he tore his biceps halfway through his senior season at Wake Forest. He slipped to the fifth-round, and the Denver Broncos scooped him up.

Strnad cut his teeth on special teams during his first four NFL seasons. He picked up a handful of starts when injuries struck the Broncos linebacker room in 2021. His big break came in 2024, when he started half the season after an injury knocked Josey Jewell out of the lineup.

The Broncos planned to pair Dre Greenlaw and Alex Singleton at linebacker in 2025, but Greenlaw’s injuries allowed Strnad to start eight more games.

This spring, the Broncos decided Strnad, now 30, was ready to be a full-time starter. They gave him his first big deal, a three-year, $18 million contract.

DNVR caught up with Strnad ahead of the Broncos’ Week 5 game against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Q: Does a divisional game against the Chargers feel different?

Justin Strnad: Definitely. Obviously, divisional opponent, AFC opponent. I think these wins are more important than an NFC game, for sure.

Q: After playing the Chargers for as long as you have, do you feel the rivalry?

Strnad: Yeah, certainly. I’m not a fan of them in any way. We play them twice a year, and it’ll be a good test on the road. We’ve got to go to L.A. and get a victory.

Last year, we had them on the ropes and they got away. This year, we need to make it set in stone. We need to leave there with a clear-cut victory.

Q: Do you approach the game differently knowing that the Chargers could be missing four starting linemen?

Strnad: Not necessarily. I think their run game is what they do best. Especially with young guys, if they’re playing new guys, they’re going to do what they do best. They do a good job in the run game. I think they’re like number six in the league running the ball.

I think that’s more for the D-linemen, the pass-rush guys, watching those young guys on tape that played a little bit in the Seattle game. I think studying those guys and what they do, facing our front could be a big challenge for them.

Q: Is there an added danger in facing a team that’s 0-4?

Strnad: Absolutely. Before the season started, everyone picked them to win the division, and their roster looked great. I think it’s still early in the season. Obviously, they haven’t gotten out to the start they want, but I think they’re still a better team than people are acting like they are.

They’ve played some good teams. In this league, if you turn it over, it’s going to be hard to win. Like you said, 0-4, they’re going to be desperate. It’s a must-win for them. We have to treat it the same.

Q: Have you watched much of the Raiders?

Strnad: Only a little bit. Kubiak’s been doing a heck of a job because they look good. Bowers is basically a receiver for them, and then they run Mayer as the tight end. They have two really good players there. Jeanty’s obviously, I think, a great player. They’re going to be good.

Q: Back in the day the Broncos and Raiders were always good. It used to be an awesome rivalry. Obviously Denver is never cheering for the Raiders, but do you think they have a chance to figure it out?

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