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Justin Strnad the Magician
Now you see him, now you don’t! Justin Strnad deked the Carolina Panthers last night and re-signed with the Denver Broncos. First reported by Joe Person of The Athletic on Tuesday evening, the team was expected to sign the free-agent linebacker, but it appears he had other plans. With plenty of cap space (Spotrac and Over the Cap estimate the Panthers to have around $18-$19 million in cap space), the Carolina Panthers are in a position to get the right man for the job.
Justin’s Homecoming That Wasn’t To Be
Strnad, played the 2022 season under Carolina Panthers Defensive Coordinator Ejiro Evero. Had Justin signed with the Panthers, he would’ve felt back at home in the Land of the Pines. He was a standout player at Wake Forest and headed out west after being selected as Denver’s fifth round pick of the 2020 NFL draft. Strnad made his first appearance in the 2021 season—logging in five starts on the season. 2021 was also his most productive season, where he registered 36 combined tackles and a quarterback rush, both rank as his career highs.
Justin’s Special Skills
Both the 2022 and 2023 seasons saw Justin line up on special teams. Special teams appears to be his niche as he has established himself as one of their go-to special teams players. After injuring his wrist just before his rookie season started, he was placed on the injured reserve list. Since his IR season, he has suited up for every game, minus one, during his budding career.
During the past three seasons, Justin Strnad has played in 50 career games, which includes 5 starts and has totaled 46 career tackles. Now, he will return for at least one more season and look to play multiple roles on special teams while also adding some depth at the linebacker position.
Carolina Welcomes Back Familiar Face
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 should be familiar with the Queen City, as he played the 2021 season in Charlotte.
Joining a group of veteran playmakers, Moore looks to improve his game and his stats during his 1-year “show-me” contract this season. While the majority of the Panthers staff will be new to Moore, there will be one familiar face in new Panthers head coach, Dan Canales. Canales and Moore spent 2017 thru 2020 in Seattle and moved to the sunny shores of Tampa Bay for the 2023 season.
More than likely, Carolina sees Moore as a depth player and nothing more. Moore has appeared in 57 games, with 14 starts and has 83 receptions good for 1,257 yards. He has 14 touchdowns to his name, with one of those coming in the postseason. He caught five passes for 94 yards in seven games last season. His best season came in 2020 when he caught 35 passes for 417 yards and six touchdowns.
Chris Ashworth
Born and Bred in the Old North State, Chris’ passion for sports was ingrained at an early age. Growing up in the Triangle, college sports were a dime a dozen and Chris went back for seconds. With a primary focus on App State, NC ACC schools, and the Carolina Panthers, you’ll find a bit of history, humor, and a reason to cheer on your favorite team(s). In addition cheering on his favorite football teams, Chris is a voracious Carolina Hurricanes fan.
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