Steelers Land New Inside Linebacker After Signing Ravens' Patrick Queen

Pittsburgh Steelers General Manager Omar Khan did a great job overhauling the inside linebackers room during the 2023 offseason. Unfortunately, two of the key contributors, Cole Holcomb and Kwon Alexander, were lost for the season before Thanksgiving due to lower body injuries. Elandon Roberts and Mark Robinson remained healthy, but reinforcements were called in when Myles Jack came out of retirement to join the locker room. Despite the trio of Holcomb, Roberts and Robinson all being under contract for 2024, Khan is up to his old tricks again and has reportedly agreed to terms with former Baltimore Ravens linebacker, Patrick Queen.

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Queen will join forces with the Steelers. He will provide necessary depth on for a unit that has some question marks entering 2024, specifically with the health of Holcomb.

Queen gets the largest outside free agent contract in Steelers history at three years and $41 million. This is a perfect counter move for an organization that just hours prior found out that Derrick Henry would be joining the division and carrying the ball for the Ravens. One of the top young insider linebackers in the NFL, some may look at getting Queen for just $41 million as a bargain.

Pittsburgh has been desperate to find a consistent linebacker since Ryan Shazier's devastating career-ending injury. Queen is just 24 years old and will now spend the next three season of his career, at the very minimum, in the Steel City. The organization has not been shy investing on the defensive side of the ball in recent years, but this comes as a ginormous external signing. On top of that, it gets Queen out of Baltimore.

Queen was a 2020 first-round pick for the Ravens and was voted to his first Pro Bowl in 2023 along with a Second Team All-Pro nod. What sticks out the most is his durability. He has never missed a professional game, playing in and starting 67 games. He has 297 total tackles, 37 tackles for loss, 33 quarterback hits, 13 and a half sacks, six forced fumbles and four interceptions.

Steelers' Mike Tomlin Had High Praises For Queen Recently, Despite 2020 Encounter

Head Coach Mike Tomlin had nothing but good things to say about the linebacker prior to a Week 18 matchup with the Ravens and despite a controversial history between the two, Queen is apparently all in no coming to Pittsburgh.

This proves once again that Khan is not messing around. There were not many better free agent linebacker targets out there than the young 24-year old and it's clear this was a priority for the franchise. If Holcomb comes back healthy and ready to play early in the season, the duo could be incredibly effective. Roberts and Queen, however, would also be a great one-two punch. Khan seems to be getting his second full offseason off to another incredible start.

Don't expect Khan and the Steelers to be done either. There are several restructures that should happen in order to give the team more spending ability. Inside linebacker was a position of need, and fans can check that off the list. Khan has already addressed the quarterback, punter and linebacker positions. It might be now time to focus on cornerback, safety, both sides of the line, and wide receiver.

Do you like the Steelers' signing of Queen? Let us know in the comments below!

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