Patrick Queen’s Versatility Is Just One Key Trait He Brings To Pittsburgh
Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
On December 4, 2017 in Cincinnati, the Pittsburgh Steelers lost the heart of the defense in Ryan Shazier in a tragic life-altering spinal injury. Thankfully, Shazier has been able to make an improbable recovery to regain the ability to walk. Less importantly in the grand scheme of things, the Steelers have still not recovered from losing a player of Shazier’s stature. It’s been a rollercoaster ride for the last several years trying to find that replacement.
Pittsburgh thought they found it in the 2019 NFL Draft, when they used the 10th overall pick on Devin Bush Jr. After a great first season, Bush tore his ACL and was never the same. The Steelers released him after the 2022 season. Enter Patrick Queen. A 2023 second-team All-Pro, Queen brings the versatility and athleticism that the Black and Gold has lacked since that fateful night in the Queen City. How does this change the Steelers defense? Let’s take a deep dive and find out.
First, Queen is flat-out better than any inside linebacker currently on the Pittsburgh roster. That’s not a knock on anyone, those are just facts based on the results. Queen has notched at least 100 tackles in three of the four seasons he has been in the league. The lone season he was below 100? He had 98. That’s impressive, especially while playing next to Roquyan Smith with the Baltimore Ravens these last two years, who is arguably the best inside linebacker in the league.
Queen’s superpower is that he can really run. He is a true sideline-to-sideline linebacker. Stretch plays and sweeps are not able to turn the corner, as Queen can run those plays down. Either Queen will come shooting through a backside gap, or he can just flat-out beat a ball carrier to the corner.
This speed also allows him to be a disruptor in the passing game. Whether his assignment is rushing the passer or covering tight ends, Queen is an every-down linebacker. That’s something the Steelers lacked last season. Somewhat because of their personnel, but also because of injuries. Regardless, Queen’s versatility will allow others to do what they do best.
Being a sure tackler is another great quality he brings to the table. The Steelers often missed tackles from the linebacking position last season on initial contact. That shouldn’t be a problem once the LSU product makes contact, as his reputation for bringing the ball-carrier down is as good as anyone in the NFL.
So the big question is why was he let go by the Ravens? Yes. you should try and keep a 25-year-old, second-team All-Pro and Pro Bowler. Unfortunately for Baltimore, there is this silly thing called the salary cap. The fifth-year pro would have caused the Ravens to wrap up a significant amount of cap space in the linebacker position, as Smith already has a five-year, $100 million deal with the Ravens. With Lamar Jackson needing more weapons on offense, Queen became the odd man out.
The Ravens’ loss is the Steelers’ gain. It’s not every day a man with his talents becomes available, and even rarer for it to align with such a position of need. Acquiring him through free agency allowed Pittsburgh to address many other needs through at the top of the draft, as they could check off the inside linebacker box.
The former Raven can also provide mentorship to newly-acquired Payton Wilson. The 2024 third-rounder out of NC State is also ultra-athletic and many expect him to start alongside Queen this season at some point. Wilson could do worse than to take a few pointers from an All-Pro.
#Steelers rookie LB Payton Wilson on what he’s learned from LB Patrick Queen.
“Just little things. … Just kind of being in his hip pocket like, ‘Hey man, what did you see to do this?’ He’s so smart that he’s able to kind of manipulate a quarterback.” pic.twitter.com/t2CIooeWJW
— Aaron Becker (@Aaron_M_Becker) June 13, 2024
But how the Steelers might benefit the most from signing Queen comes from the enormous chip on his shoulder. He’s been indisputably great in his young career, but the Ravens passed. Queen is on record stating he wants to solidify himself as a top-three linebacker in the league. His versatility, athleticism, and the grudge he carries for an AFC Rival means the Steel City seems to have gotten themselves a huge upgrade at a critical position on their defense.
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