Commanders Acknowledge CB Need
The Commanders ranked dead last in terms of total defense in 2025 and were the fifth-worst team with respect to passing defense. While Washington added CBs Amik Robertson and Ahkello Witherspoon in free agency this year, the team’s cornerback room still looks as if it could use a quality addition or two. Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic (subscription required) believes that is the case, and she says assistant GM Lance Newmark has conceded as much.
The Commanders did not add a CB in last month’s draft. Afterwards, Newmark said, “[i]t wasn’t that it was not considered. It was that, when we were picking, a player in those rooms (safety and cornerback) just didn’t make sense as the best decision at that point.”
As Jhabvala observes, LSU’s Mansoor Delane represented Washington’s best chance to acquire a starting-caliber corner in the draft, but the Chiefs took him off the board with the No. 6 pick, one spot ahead of the Commanders. Though Washington was viewed as a team willing to consider a trade down, there were no other CB prospects who merited a pick even in the middle of the first round, and the opportunity to select linebacker Sonny Styles at No. 7 was too good to pass up in favor of safety Caleb Downs, regardless of whether the Commanders could have traded back and still landed the talented DB.
After selecting Styles, Washington did not pick again until the third round, at which point Jhabvala says there were no CBs viewed as immediate upgrades over Robertson or incumbent Mike Sainristil. However, a depth chart topped by Sainristil (who was Pro Football Focus’s 95th-ranked corner out of 112 qualifiers last year), Robertson (106th), and 2025 second-rounder Trey Amos (80th) leaves much to be desired. Witherspoon, 30, did not see enough snaps to qualify for PFF’s 2025 season rankings, but his overall grade of 54.0 positioned him between Sainristil and Amos.
The problem, of course, is that premium corners are simply not available on the FA market at this time of year. Rasul Douglas quietly turned in a nice season for the Dolphins in 2025 and could be had for a modest price, and bounce-back candidates like L’Jarius Sneed and Trevon Diggs perhaps offer some level of intrigue (although there has been no publicly-reported interest in any of those three players this offseason aside from Packers GM Brian Gutekunst leaving the door open to a Diggs re-up). Tre’Davious White is another possible option after a decent showing with the Bills last year.
In theory, the Commanders could pursue a trade, but the failure of the Marshon Lattimore swap could make them gun-shy. Still, it would not be surprising to see the club add to the depth chart at some point in the near future.
Framework ‘In Place’ For A.J. Brown Trade?
MAY 31: While the term “framework” is a bit nebulous, and while Breer did concede the Eagles and Patriots still have to hammer out all of the trade details, a fundamental issue in these protracted talks appears to remain unresolved. Per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler (video link), the Patriots are still not “overly crazy” about giving up a first-round pick (presumably, this refers to a 2028 pick as well as a ‘27 choice).
Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald spoke with various sources about fair compensation in a Brown swap and received differing opinions. One source called Brown a “declining asset” and argued a Day 1 choice was too rich, while another pointed out that the Broncos had to give up a first-rounder to acquire Jaylen Waddle, who is less than two years younger than Brown and who does not have the same history of production.
Fowler suggests attaching a condition to a draft pick or even an arrangement in which Philadelphia sends a pick back to New England could help push the negotiations over the finish line.
MAY 30: There has been no shortage of coverage for the situation concerning Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown and a potential offseason trade. At this point, it’s become widely accepted that the team will ship Brown off to New England, but they will wait until after June 1 to do so. Well, in the latest development from Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer (via Eliot Shorr-Parks of 94WIP.com), there’s belief that “the framework is in place” for the trade to occur this week.
To run through a brief timeline, following several incidents that seemed to paint a picture of an unhappy Brown in Philadelphia, reports emerged near the end of the 2025 NFL season that the Eagles would consider trading the three-time second-team All-Pro they had acquired four years ago after sending a first-round pick to Tennessee. By the time the season had ended and a new champion had been crowned, even Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni hinted at the future in telling the media that he couldn’t guarantee Brown would return for 2026.
One of the two teams that made it to Super Bowl LX — the one that fell just short of the season’s ultimate goal — expressed early interest in Brown, linking the former Titans wideout to his former head coach in New England. The Patriots were not alone in their pursuit, though, as the Bills, Ravens, and Rams emerged as teams to watch for the veteran pass catcher. The Bills seemed to remove themselves from the conversation, though, after successfully acquiring former Bears wide receiver D.J. Moore and a fifth-round pick in exchange for a second-rounder.
The Rams reached out to Philadelphia, and trade talks progressed to the point that Los Angeles began exploring the idea of trading away veteran wide receiver Davante Adams. It was rumored that talks with the Rams had progressed even further than the Eagles’ discussions with New England, but ultimately, Los Angeles was ruled out as a potential trade destination for Brown.
With the Rams out, a few other teams were rumored with little substance, but interest out of New England remained a constant, even after the team made a strong move to improve its receiving corps by signing former Packers receiver Romeo Doubs. Veteran wideout Stefon Diggs also expressed interest in re-signing to stay with the Patriots as a free agent, but adding another big contract to that position room was something the Patriots were only willing to do if they missed out on Brown.
At first, the Eagles had intentions of completing some solution for the situation with Brown before the start of free agency, but as time went on, it became clear that the team intended to wait until after June 1 to make a trade happen in order to avoid incurring massive dead cap figures. Any trade before that date would shoulder the team with $43.45MM in dead money, and Brown would still account for $20.06MM of their cap space for the season. A post-June 1 trade would still leave Philadelphia with $16.35MM in dead money, but it would also clear $7.04MM in cap space.
With this realization, it was considered to be “inevitable” that Brown would be traded once June arrived. As if to emphasize that point, Philadelphia approached the 2026 NFL Draft with the mindset that it would not have Brown for 2026 and walked away from the first round having drafted USC wide receiver Makai Lemon, a clear replacement for the departing veteran. With the Eagles set, the only question that remained concerned Brown’s future home and compensation.
Expectations continued to point to the Patriots as the likeliest other participant in the inevitable exchange, but New England seemed to balk at the idea of utilizing a first-round selection to acquire Brown. The Eagles’ initial ask was for a first- and second-round package (specifically, with a first-rounder in 2027), though Brown’s value was perceived to be more like a packaged headlined by a second-round pick. Two days ago, it was reported that the Eagles and Patriots were still negotiating but that Philadelphia had opened its mind to accepting a 2028 first-round pick.
In our latest update from Breer, he clarifies that the exact terms and conditions of the deal may still need to be hammered out, but with the framework in place, he asserts that it “would take somebody backing out” for the trade not to occur. At this point, it would be a surprise if a team backed out, so all signs are pointing to Brown becoming a Patriot early in the coming week.
49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk Considered “Untradeable”
The 49ers want to extract some value for wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk via trade, but the Commanders, who have been viewed as the likeliest Aiyuk destination, reportedly have no interest in trading for him. Washington would only be interested in Aiyuk if he were to be released, and the same is apparently true for other clubs who might consider a flier on the 28-year-old.
Two rival executives tell ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler that Aiyuk is simply “untradeable” (video link). At this point, the reasons for that are well-documented.
Aiyuk suffered a torn ACL and MCL in Week 7 of the 2024 season, less than two months after signing a four-year, $120MM extension. He landed on PUP to begin the 2025 campaign, and there was some belief he could make a late-season return to the lineup. But Aiyuk was described as “extremely distant” during his rehab, which led San Francisco to make the drastic decision to void the remaining guarantees on his contract.
More recently, we learned the Niners continue to have difficulties getting in touch with the Arizona State product, which Fowler confirmed. The fact that Aiyuk has been on the shelf since October 2024, the strange rift with his current club, and his contract situation have all conspired to make him an unappealing trade candidate.
Despite their decision to void Aiyuk’s remaining guarantees, the 49ers do owe him a ~$25MM option bonus in early September that, if exercised, would be prorated through 2030 (if declined, that money would be due all at once). Of course, an acquiring team would inherit that obligation, in addition to base salaries of $27.27MM in 2027 and $29.15MM in 2028. While those salaries are not guaranteed, the overall picture does not help GM John Lynch’s trade efforts.
However, the September option date does create a deadline that is still several months away, so Lynch can string the process along in the hopes that a WR-needy club decides to take a gamble. Fowler does not foresee that happening, though he does not completely foreclose the possibility that Lynch may still be able to salvage a trade here. Perhaps another team will deal with an injury or underperformance in training camp that will make the chance of Aiyuk replicating his stellar 2023 performance (75 catches for 1,342 yards and seven TDs) worth the risk.
As of Monday afternoon, Lynch will be able to release Aiyuk as a post-June 1 cut, thereby allowing him to spread a $35MM dead money charge over the 2026 and ‘27 seasons.
Rams QB Matthew Stafford Addresses Ty Simpson Pick
The Rams’ decision to select quarterback Ty Simpson with the No. 13 overall in this year’s draft rather than pursue immediate help for a team with the reigning MVP under center and an open competitive window was one of the biggest surprises of the event. Post-draft reporting indicated head coach Sean McVay and GM Les Snead were in agreement on the pick, and Matthew Stafford has done his part to avoid fanning the flames of controversy.
In a recent appearance on The Pat McAfee Show (video link via ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler), Stafford said he is “trying to share as much knowledge as I can” with his new protege.
“Listen, I was a big fan of Ty when he was playing at Alabama. … I sent him a text after he got drafted and said, ‘I really enjoyed watching you play, just you were in the wrong jersey,'” Stafford remarked, referring to the rivalry between his and Simpson’s alma maters. “He’s a talented kid, I’m going to do everything I can to get this team ready to play, to win, but at the same time share some of the knowledge that I’ve gained throughout my career because I wouldn’t be in the seat that I am right now … if I didn’t have people helping me out along the way too. So I’m happy to do that, but he has been a sponge, he’s looking to get better.”
When addressing the media after he inked a new deal that will tie him to the Rams through at least the 2027 season, Stafford echoed those sentiments.
“I think my job, first and foremost, is to get myself and our team ready to play as best I possibly can,” the 38-year-old said (via Grant Gordon of NFL.com). “[Simpson is] a part of that team, there’s no question about it. We’re in a unique position in the fact that we play the same position. I have a ton of experience, and he’s just now starting his journey as an NFL player. So, listen, I know he’s gonna watch, not only me, but other guys, you know?”
McVay did call Stafford before the draft to tell him the team may select Simpson, a courtesy the Falcons did not extend to Kirk Cousins before they chose Michael Penix Jr. in 2024. Stafford did not disclose the details of his conversation with his HC, but he did express gratitude for the heads up.
“I’m not gonna get into much of what our conversation was,” he said. “I appreciate him talking with me about those kind of things. We have constant dialogue and a great relationship, so I appreciate that. I understand where the team’s coming from. Listen, I’m not 25 years old, and I get that. So, we’re doing everything we can to be as good a football team as we can for now, for the future, for all of it.”
Speaking specifically about his contract extension, Stafford said he is pleased to have wrapped up the negotiations.
“Happy to have next year taken care of if I decide to play and they still want me back,” he said (via ESPN’s Lindsey Thiry). “But just excited to get that behind me because I just want to come out here and play and not think about that kind of stuff.”
Patriots CB Christian Gonzalez Absent From OTAs; Extension Before Week 1 Likely?
Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez has not been present for the team’s recent voluntary work, including the Wednesday OTA session that was open to the media, as ESPN’s Mike Reiss relays. Gonzalez is now eligible for an extension and is likely eyeing a top-of-the-market deal, so it is fair to consider this a contract-related absence, particularly since the 2023 first-rounder had participated in the voluntary portion of the Pats’ offseason program in each of his first three NFL seasons.
The fact that Gonzalez is under club control through the 2027 campaign by virtue of his fifth-year option means the Patriots still have some leverage here, per Ben Volin of the Boston Globe. Gonzalez may well set a new high-water mark for corners in terms of average annual value on the new money portion of his second contract, but the remaining seasons on his rookie accord will limit his overall AAV (for instance, as Volin observes, Derek Stingley Jr.’s three-year, $90MM extension with the Texans was tacked on to the final year of his rookie deal and his fifth-year option season, giving him a five-year, $112MM commitment in practice).
Nonetheless, Volin does anticipate New England and Gonzalez will come to terms on an extension before Week 1. In addition to the usual benefits of wrapping up a deal of this nature well before an elite player starts to sniff free agency – even if the CB market has not skyrocketed like other premium positions – the Patriots likely will have their hands full with Drake Maye negotiations in 2027.
Gonzalez, who will turn 24 next month and who recently expressed a desire to remain in Foxborough for the long haul, has submitted back-to-back standout seasons after being limited to four games as a rookie due to a dislocated shoulder and torn labrum. He earned second-team All-Pro honors in 2024, and despite missing the first three contests of the ‘25 season due to a hamstring ailment, he earned his first Pro Bowl nod.
As a key member of the Patriots’ AFC-winning outfit, Gonzalez was awarded a strong 75.0 overall grade from Pro Football Focus, which made him the site’s 14th-best corner out of 112 qualified players. He was also one of New England’s lone standouts during their Super Bowl LX loss, making some timely stops while allowing just one catch.
Fellow 2023 first-rounder Devon Witherspoon is also seeking an extension, and as we have noted on several occasions, the Seahawks’ star and Gonzalez share the same representation. They know the second member of the duo to put pen to paper will likely get the better deal, and as Volin suggests, neither of them wants to be the first to blink.
Witherspoon and Seattle reportedly are not close to finalizing an agreement.
Vikings To Hire Nolan Teasley As GM; Rob Brzezinski Staying On As EVP
The Vikings have landed on their next general manager. Seahawks assistant GM Nolan Teasley will be taking over the front office in Minnesota, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
Teasley is coming off Seattle’s Super Bowl victory, its second during his tenure. He first joined the Seahawks in 2013 as a scouting intern shortly before they won their first Lombardi Trophy. Now, 13 years later, he is headed for the GM job in Minnesota, where the Vikings are hoping he can bring two-time Super Bowl-winning GM John Schneider‘s roster-building expertise and put them on a championship path of their own.
Because Teasley is a minority candidate, the Seahawks will receive two third-round picks as compensation for his exit, Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reports.
A few weeks after the end of a disappointing 9-8 season, the Vikings fired GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah in late January. The team opted against launching an immediate search and decided to wait until after the draft. Executive vice president of football operations Rob Brzezinski, who has worked for the Vikings since 1999, took over for Adofo-Mensah on an interim basis.
Brzezinski guided the Vikings through the most important parts of the offseason and emerged as a candidate for the full-time GM job. He joined Teasley and three outside assistant GMs — Reed Burckhardt (Broncos), Terrance Gray (Bills), John McKay (Rams) — as finalists for the position. They all received second interviews. As Kevin Seifert of ESPN notes, Brzezinski was the only contender without a scouting background — something ownership (Zygi and Mark Wilf) valued in this search.
Like Brzezinski, each of Burckhardt, Gray and McKay entered the process with notable Vikings ties. Before joining the Broncos’ front office in 2022, Burckhardt was a 13-year Vikings employee who worked in various scouting and personnel roles. Gray was a Vikings scout from 2006-16. While McKay has no past experience in Minnesota, he has worked with head coach Kevin O’Connell. He was part of the Rams’ front office when O’Connell was their offensive coordinator from 2020-21.
Teasley will now be the one teaming with O’Connell, though Brzezinski is not leaving the organization (keeping in line with what Seifert predicted shortly before today’s news). Brzezinski will remain the Vikings’ EVP of football operations, Jones reports. He has served as a contract negotiator and salary cap analyst in that role.
Rumblings about the Vikings going with a two-pronged front office setup surfaced before this hire, and the team allowing Brzezinski to lead its draft effort proved telling. The interim GM working alongside an outside hire will certainly be an interesting setup, but the Vikings considering Buckhardt and Gray pointed to interest in having some familiarity atop their front office.
The Panthers and Lions have similar setups, with Brandt Tilis and Mike Disner working closely with GMs Dan Morgan and Brad Holmes. Though, Brzezinski’s stint as interim GM and having run a draft for the team does separate this instance from the other NFC teams’ plans. The Seahawks have now lost their offensive coordinator (Klint Kubiak) and AGM from the Super Bowl LX-winning team.
While Kubiak’s exit will generate more attention, it is unsurprising to see a Schneider right-hand man be hired. The Schneider-era Seahawks winning Super Bowls with two entirely different nuclei brought a historic NFL achievement, and the 17th-year GM will need a new second-in-command as a result.
Connor Byrne contributed to this post.
Giants Plan To Add WR; Odell Beckham Jr. Still On Team’s Radar
With injuries ravaging the Giants’ receiving corps, the team plans to add another wideout, Paul Schwartz of the New York Post reports. The Giants will work out receivers Monday, per Schwartz, who names free agent Odell Beckham Jr. as a likely participant.
Beckham, who starred with the Giants from 2014-18, met with the team back in April. Head coach John Harbaugh stayed in touch with Beckham afterward, though a potential reunion was put on the back burner. The Giants now appear more willing to turn to Beckham after losing receiver Gunner Olszewski to a torn Achilles in practice on Friday. The chances of them signing Beckham have gone from almost zero to around 50/50, according to Schwartz.
While Olszewski is not high on the Giants’ list of targets, his injury was the latest blow to their depth chart. No. 1 wideout Malik Nabers‘ has endured a difficult recovery from the torn ACL and meniscus he suffered last September. Nabers’ status for Week 1 is up in the air, while Darius Slayton is on the mend from core-muscle surgery. Their issues have left the Giants with nine healthy receivers, according to Schwartz, who notes they need more available for 7-on-7s and full team drills.
With Nabers and Slayton working back from their surgeries, Darnell Mooney, Calvin Austin, third-round rookie Malachi Fields, Isaiah Hodgins and Beaux Collins make up the Giants’ current top five. If Beckham joins the group, he would have to spend the summer months fighting for a roster spot. The fact that he doesn’t play special teams may work against him.
While Beckham boasts an impressive resume that includes 575 receptions, 59 touchdowns and three Pro Bowl trips, it is unknown if the 33-year-old is an NFL-caliber receiver anymore. He hasn’t taken the field since Dec. 8, 2024, when he was a member of the Dolphins. Beckham caught just nine passes for 55 yards in nine games that year. The 10-year veteran didn’t sign anywhere last season, but he still had to serve a six-game suspension for performance-enhancing drugs.
Beckham’s original Giants stint ended when they traded him to the Browns in 2019 for a first-round pick (which became Dexter Lawrence), a third-rounder and safety Jabrill Peppers. In addition to those teams and the Dolphins, Beckham has suited up for the Rams and Ravens. Beckham played for Harbaugh in 2023 in Baltimore, where he pulled in 35 catches for 565 yards and three TDs over 14 games. The former star’s stock has continued dropping since then, but rejoining Harbaugh in New York would give Beckham a chance to earn his way back into the league.
Lions Not Close To Extension Agreement With RB Jahmyr Gibbs
The Lions have finalized one big-money second contract with a member of their 2023 draft class (linebacker Jack Campbell). Three other notable players from that group are eligible for extensions, including Jahmyr Gibbs.
A payday for Detroit’s lead back has long been on the team’s radar. It would come as little surprise if Gibbs were to find himself securing a new deal relatively soon as he appears to be the next in line for one. There is plenty of work still to be done on that front, however.
During an appearance on NFL Live yesterday (video link), ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported there has not yet been much progress during negotiations between Gibbs and the Lions. Plenty of time remains for an agreement to be reached before the start of training camp, of course. Detroit also has the option of remaining patient in this case with Gibbs under team control through 2027.
A key factor as it pertains to Gibbs will no doubt be the movement seen in the running back market as early as this summer. Fowler noted, to no surprise, a pact averaging $20MM or more per year is likely for Gibbs. Saquon Barkley‘s pact currently leads all running backs with an average annual value of $20.6MM, but the bar could move multiple times in short order. Bijan Robinson is a strong candidate to become the league’s highest-paid back; he and Gibbs have become two of the NFL’s most productive at the position across the past three years.
A report from last month indicated Robinson is expected to land a more valuable extension than Gibbs. According to Fowler, however, some around the league view Detroit’s RB1 as being better than Atlanta’s. That could result in Gibbs moving to the top of the financial pecking order. In any case, the timing of extensions being worked out will no doubt be critical, and each fourth-year producer could prefer to wait until the other signs a deal.
Gibbs split carries with David Montgomery during his rookie season in particular, but he has taken on a major workload on the ground and through the air since arriving as a first-round pick. The 24-year-old has amassed over 5,000 scrimmage yards to date while scoring 49 total touchdowns. Any commitment made by the team will ensure Gibbs remains in the Motor City while making him one of several offensive players attached to a big-ticket deal.
The likes of quarterback Jared Goff, receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and left tackle Penei Sewell are already on the books at a large cost for Detroit. Tight end Sam LaPorta is a pending 2027 free agent, and the Lions are also interested in a new contract in his case. Fitting Gibbs into that financial setup will carry challenges, but an uptick in negotiations to work out a long-term pact is likely to take place over the coming weeks.
5 Key Stories: 5/24/26 – 5/30/26
More NFL teams have begun OTAs during this past week, and on-field work will continue through to early June. A quiet period prior to training camp looms, but a number of interesting developments have taken place recently. In case you missed of this week’s top stories, here is a quick recap:
- James Lands Chargers Extension: The Chargers made clear their intention of working out a new Derwin James deal following the draft, and they succeeded on that front. Team and player agreed to a three-year extension featuring $44MM in full guarantees. With an average annual value of $25.2MM, James is once again the league’s highest-paid safety thanks to his new contract. The five-time Pro Bowler is under team control through 2029, and he figures to remain a focal point on defense for years to come. Continuing to produce at an elite level would make this latest commitment worthwhile, to say the least.
- Vikings Hire Teasley As GM: Through the early stages of free agency along with the draft, the Vikings were led in the front office by interim general manager Rob Brzezinski. Minnesota’s search for a full-time GM has resulted in an outside hire, though. Seahawks assistant GM Nolan Teasley has agreed to take charge of the Vikings. He will operate as the team’s top executive, while Brzezinski will return to his previous role (executive vice president of football operations). Teasley – whose hire will net Seattle two third-round compensatory picks – was unique from fellow finalists Reed Burckhardt, Terrance Gray and John McKay in that he did not have previous ties to Minnesota or head coach Kevin O’Connell. He will look to provide the Vikings with a reset after four years of Kwesi Adofo-Mensah in place.
- Texans, Collins Agree To Top-Up: Nico Collins was the subject of trade interest earlier this spring, but as expected the Texans chose to keep their top receiver in place. Doing so allowed for a notable raise to be worked out. Collins is still under contract for the next two years, but he will collect a bump in base compensation for 2026 and ’27. In all, the two-time Pro Bowler is due $60MM over that span, with nearly all of that figure guaranteed in full. Collins, 27, has topped 1,000 yards in each of the past three years and he will be counted on to continue operating as Houston’s offensive focal point while playing at an increased rate.
- Packers’ Jacobs Arrested: Josh Jacobs was recently arrested and booked on five charges. The Packers running back was arrested for battery/domestic abuse, criminal damage to property/domestic abuse, disorderly conduct/domestic abuse, strangulation and suffocation, and intimidation of a victim; strangulation is a felony, while the others are misdemeanors. Jacobs has denied the allegations he faces, and he has yet to be formally charged. Having been released from jail, his future from a legal perspective – along with the potential for NFL discipline – is currently unclear. Green Bay does not plan on making a running back addition at this time. Jacobs has spent the past two seasons as the Packers’ RB1, and he is under contract through 2027.
- Cardinals Receiving Trade Calls On Sweat: The Cardinals added Josh Sweat in free agency last spring, but he could be on the move again. The veteran edge rusher has been the subject of trade calls. Sweat worked under Jonathan Gannon in Philadelphia and reunited with him by signing in Arizona last March. Gannon was among the head coaches fired after the season, however, something which could be a factor as the Cards consider offers. Sweat set a new career high with 12 sacks in 2025, and he is on the books for the next three years. As an intriguing trade target for any number of teams seeking EDGE help, it will be interesting to see if Sweat truly becomes available via a swap this summer.
Steelers, LB Patrick Queen Discussed Extension
MAY 30: When reflecting on his current status, Queen also said (via Christopher Carter of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) there was some truth to speculation regarding a potential trade this offseason. Nothing was ever imminent on that front, however. Uncertainty will continue to loom over Queen’s future beyond 2026, but he is set to spend a third year as a key member of Pittsburgh’s defense.
MAY 28: Patrick Queen has struggled to live up to expectations through his first two seasons in Pittsburgh. That apparently hasn’t stopped the Steelers from engaging in extension talks with the veteran linebacker.
When asked about his contract status, Queen acknowledged that the two sides have had some initial discussions about a new deal.
“It was talks here and there,” Queen told the Steelers beat (including ESPN’s Brooke Pryor). “Nothing crazy. … Obviously no movement either way. At the end of the day, they got a business to handle. I got a business to handle.”
Following a standout 2023 campaign with the Ravens, Queen joined their AFC North rivals via a three-year, $41MM contract. His grades from PFF have slipped in each of the first two years of that pact, culminating in a 2025 campaign where he ranked 79th among 88 qualifying linebackers. The website also credited Queen with a career-worst 20.4% missed tackle rate. Despite his struggles, the 26-year-old reportedly generated some trade interest from the Cowboys this offseason, although a swap obviously never came to fruition.
The Steelers haven’t done a whole lot to reinforce the position this offseason. The team did re-sign key depth piece Cole Holcomb, and Payton Wilson is entrenched at the other linebacker spot. Still, the team will continue to be reliant on Queen in 2026. After being handed the “green dot” responsibility through his first two years with the organization, perhaps the Steelers value Queen’s veteran leadership, especially as they look to install Patrick Graham‘s new defense.
While Queen’s performance doesn’t necessarily warrant a contract standoff, he was notably absent from the first week of OTAs before recently showing up for this week’s practices. Unless the Steelers are able to extend Queen for a below-market price, there’s a good chance they’ll let the 2026 campaign play out before committing to another contract.