In 2023, the Pittsburgh Steelers faced inside linebacker issues once more. Two former Steelers linebackers suggested that the team address the need again in free agency, this time with of the Baltimore Ravens, a Pro Bowl player, in order to resolve the problem.Patrick Queen
Terence Garvin, a former NFL linebacker, told his old teammate Arthur Moats, “I’d pay for Patrick Queen.” “Patrick Queen is appealing to me.” I love Patrick Queen.
On January 25, Moats and his co-host brought up the concept to Garvin in an edition of The Arthur Moats Experience With Deke Podcast. Moats and Garvin were teammates for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 2014 to 2015.
The signing of Queen, who was named to the 2023 second team All-Pro, would significantly improve the Steelers’ inside linebacker position. But this signing won’t come cheap.
The 24-year-old linebacker is expected to sign a four-year, $72.5 million contract, according to Pro Football Focus. Queen would receive an average salary of $18.13 million per season under such a contract.
For Queen, Spotrac projected a comparable figure on an annual average. Spotrac, however, estimated that Queen would sign a five-year deal for roughly $92.6 million.
How the Steelers Could Use Patrick Queen
Queen’s first four NFL seasons with the Ravens were prosperous. That should be sufficient to persuade many Steelers supporters to target him in the next free agency.
First off, Pittsburgh’s main foe will be weakened by Baltimore losing the linebacker. However, the Steelers and Ravens have a history of strong defenses that support their physical linebacker play.
However, the Steelers have seen some difficulties at inside linebacker. It didn’t work out to trade up for Devin Bush in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft. The Steelers added three excellent free agents last offseason: Cole Holcomb, Elandon Roberts, and Kwon Alexander.
Though only for a half-season, those signings significantly enhanced Pittsburgh’s linebacker room. At the start of November, Holcomb and Alexander sustained injuries that ended their seasons.
Queen’s endurance will therefore probably appeal to the Steelers. In his four years of playing, he has never missed a game. In addition, Queen has averaged over 9 tackles for loss and 113.5 total tackles every season. He has 33 quarterback hits, 13.5 sacks, and 4 interceptions in just four years.
With Queen paired with either Roberts or Holcomb, who are both signed through 2024, the Steelers will have a much better linebacker tandem.
Could Queen Afford the Steelers?
Queen would undoubtedly suit in very well in Pittsburgh. Whether the Steelers could afford him is the question.
That was a question even Garvin had when he promised to pay for Queen.
Pretending to be Pittsburgh’s general manager, Garvin stated of Queen, “I might not be able to afford that.” “I have to invest my money elsewhere. I need to work on that line.
Right now, the Steelers aren’t in a position to make big moves in free agency at any position. As of January 27, Spotrac estimated that the team was over $14.2 million over the salary cap.
If Pittsburgh makes a few clear cuts to start the summer, they might free up a lot of salary cap room. But Queen will probably be beyond the team’s budget if he actually gets offers paying him $18 million a season.
Queen will rank among the top three players at his position with an average yearly salary of more than $18 million per season. Only Fred Warner of the San Francisco 49ers and fellow linebacker Roquan Smith of the Ravens earn more than $18 million a season.
