The Pittsburgh Steelers made a surprise splash signing, inking former Ravens linebacker Patrick Queen to a three-year, $41M contract. After signing a rival player to the largest free agent contract in franchise history, it’s apparent that general manager Omar Khan is operating with a sense of urgency. Since Queen’s breakout 2022 campaign, he’s morphed into one of the more impactful off-ball backers in the entire NFL. His top-end athleticism is something that the organization has been trying to find since Ryan Shazier’s unfortunate injury in 2017.
SN analyst Derrick Bell breaks down the prized free agent signing’s game: what he brings to the table as a run defender, blitzer and in coverage. At just 24-years old, there’s still room for growth that will hopefully lead to Patrick Queen hitting his ceiling as a player. Pittsburgh’s defense needed to get younger and faster, particularly in the back seven and by adding Queen to the equation, they accomplish both of those goals.
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