Denver Broncos select Wake Forest linebacker Justin Strnad in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL Draft

The Denver Broncos have selected Wake Forest linebacker Justin Strnad in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Strnad is a 6’3”, 238 pound off the ball linebacker who played his college ball at Wake Forrest. He ran a 40-time of 4.74 seconds and had a 29 inch vertical jump at the NFL Scouting Combine earlier this year.

Here is what the Athletic’s Dane Brugler had to say about Strnad in his annual draft guide.

SUMMARY: A two-year starter at Wake Forest, Strnad was an inside linebacker in defensive coordinator Lyle Hemphill’s 4-2-5 base scheme. After proving himself on special teams and as a sophomore reserve, the high school safety-turned-linebacker was consistently productive in his 20 starts the last two seasons, averaging 8.7 tackles per game. Strnad is highly aggressive and runs the alley with conviction, seeking out a warm body to strike. While he moves well for the position, he doesn’t always trust his eyes and struggles to stay a step ahead. Overall, Strnad has athletic feet and transfers his weight smoothly to chase or cover, but he needs to see things quicker and become more disciplined to stay on the field in the NFL, projecting as a special teamer who should push for starting snaps.

GRADE: 3rd-4th Round

Strnad will have a chance to contribute in sub-packages early on in his rookie year but he’ll mostly play special teams early on. He’s another team captain with upside to his game who should develop nicely under Vic Fangio.