Steelers Swipe All-Pro LB Patrick Queen from Rival Ravens

The Pittsburgh Steelers are set to sign former Baltimore Ravens inside linebacker Patrick Queen to a three-year contract, according to a report by Marcus Spears and Adam Schefter of ESPN.

Queen and the Steelers have reportedly agreed on a three-year deal that will pay him $41 million and keep the star linebacker in the AFC North, with the Steelers wresting him away from their division rivals.

The 24-year-old was Baltimore’s first-round pick out of LSU in 2020, and has been a starter for all four seasons on the Ravens defense, but Baltimore had to deal with both Queen and his partner Roquan Smith both hitting free agency this offseason. The Ravens chose to re-sign Smith to a five-year, $100 million contract in late January and let Queen hit the market, where the last team they likely wanted him to land snapped him up.

An outstanding cover man, Queen is finally the long-sought spiritual replacement to Ryan Shazier that the Steelers have been searching for at inside linebacker. Queen will add to the group that includes Cole Holcomb and Elandon Roberts, giving the Steelers three starting-capable inside linebackers for the 2024 season.

Queen is coming off his best statistical season in Baltimore. In 2023, he played in all 17 games, racking up 133 tackles, nine tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, six quarterback hits, six passes defended, one interception and one forced fumble. He was named a second-team All-Pro and was selected to the AFC Pro Bowl squad, his first career honor in each category.

The 6-foot, 230-pound linebacker does not have the size of typical Steelers players at the position, but he makes up for it with blistering speed. Queen ran a 4.5-second 40-yard dash and posted a 10-foot-5 broad jump at the 2020 NFL Combine.

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