This NFL free agency period has witnessed a notable trend of players switching teams, often to former divisional rivals. Among the noteworthy moves, Calvin Ridley departed the Jacksonville Jaguars for the Tennessee Titans, Saquon Barkley opted out of the New York Giants in favor of the Philadelphia Eagles.
And, Dan Quinn orchestrated a significant shift by enticing multiple Dallas Cowboys players to join the Washington Commanders. Additionally, there has been movement within the AFC North, exemplified by former Baltimore Ravens linebacker Patrick Queen’s decision to ink a three-year, $41 million deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Queen’s signing with the Steelers is particularly significant given his impressive track record. Over the past four seasons, he stands among a select group of six players who have amassed at least 450 combined tackles and 10 sacks. His stellar performance in 2023, where he tallied 133 combined tackles, 3.5 sacks, six passes defensed, and one interception, earned him his first Pro Bowl and All-Pro selections.
When asked about his choice to join the Steelers in free agency, Queen highlighted the organization’s rich history of success, particularly in defense, and the presence of talented stars on the roster. “I think just the organization itself, known for winning, known for great defense, and they got a bunch of stars over here,” Queen expressed during his introductory press conference on Friday. “I just wanted to come be a part of that and be that extra piece to try and win again.”
While Patrick Queen is set to face the team that drafted him, the Baltimore Ravens, twice a year, he sees it as an opportunity to embrace a “villain” role.
“It’s going to be weird, but I mean, you know. I wanna be that villain, I want to be that guy,” Queen expressed. “I’m looking to do some stuff to them.”
In 2023, the Ravens’ defense made history by leading or co-leading the league in scoring defense, sacks, and takeaways. Queen flourished alongside Roquan Smith, but now, as he steps into a leadership role at linebacker, can he maintain the same impact?
“The whole situation is, you know, (Smith) definitely helped me, and I definitely learned a lot from him,” Queen reflected in an interview with Trib Live. “But at the same time, I’ve got to go out on the field and perform. I’ve got to play. I’ve got to tackle. I’ve got to do these things. I’ve got to catch the ball.
“So when it comes to (the opinion that), ‘he made me,’ I think I was already on my path that I’m on right now. It just took a little time, and I started hitting that stride at the beginning of that third year. And once (Smith) got here, that just even helped even more. So now it’s my time to go out there and lead and (lift) somebody else up.”