The Steelers’ most notable defensive addition this offseason was the signing of linebacker Patrick Queen. The former Raven made an intra-divisional move on a deal which includes no money guaranteed beyond its first year.
Queen signed for $41MM on a three-year pact which includes $13.84MM fully guaranteed for 2024. After that, though, the deal includes roster bonuses which will allow the Steelers to proceed on a year-to-year basis. Considering Queen’s age (24) and production, it came as a surprise he agreed to a contract with such a structure. When explaining his free agent decision, he confirmed he left money on the table.
“From all the 15 teams that I was talking to, it came down to like five at the end,” the former first-rounder said during an appearance on Steelers DB (video link).“It was just like five teams in the mix. Some of them were offering $17 [million per year]. After that it was like, I have a chance to either go win or I have a chance to get paid. For me, the difference was like $4 or $5 million.
“I’m looking at it like, I’ve never been on a losing team before, and then I also don’t want to be a part of anything being rebuilt because I’m trying to win now… I’m really just trying to win right now, get that out the way and then get paid later.”
Queen’s deal checks in at an AAV of $13.67MM, the fifth-highest figure in the league amongst inside linebackers. Roquan Smith‘s Ravens extension, signed shortly after he was acquired via trade, continues to top the market at $20MM per season. The fact Baltimore already had Smith on the books was one of the signs indicating Queen would be playing elsewhere in 2024. Indeed, a report from last month indicated the Ravens did not attempt to re-sign the LSU product this offseason.
That will certainly add a new layer of intrigue to the Ravens-Steelers rivalry for at least one more season. Queen posted a career-high 133 tackles in 2023, adding 3.5 sacks, one interception and one fumble recovery. Those figures earned him a Pro Bowl nod and second-team All-Pro honors, and he will aim to build off that acclaim as a central figure on Pittsburgh’s defense. If player and team have success, the below-market agreement will prove to be a worthwhile commitment on both sides.
This guy played beast this year for Baltimore, they will no doubt miss him!
He was only good this past season so I’m curious if he simply improved and will replicate his 2023 play or if it was due to MacDonald’s scheme (which saw numerous players breakout and/or have career years), leading to him backsliding and becoming replaceable once again.
Queen is clearly a very physical presence, but the knock on him was that he couldn’t play within the defensive scheme, i.e., he was often out of position and thus exposed a lot of the field/other players to being exploited.
Patrick Queen is a four year starter with a two time MVP at QB. He has played in 5 playoff games without a Super Bowl appearance.
Queen ” I’ve never been on a losing team before” A clear explanation of why Baltimore let him walk.
There are a lot of guys on the Ravens that have never played in a superbowl that have played in playoff games…like Lamar Jackson, who they extended.
@damage – based on your comment, they should cut at least half the team, then. MVP included.
It’s not my comment, it’s Patrick Queen’s quote from the article.
Baltimore has assembled one hell of a support cast and has nothing to show for it. Most players talk about how they were not able to finish, or the season ended too soon, or express the need to work harder. In 2021 Baltimore went 8-9 without a playoff appearance, and Mr. Queen considers that a winning team. I know that Harbaugh and DeCosta do not share that opinion.
It is interesting he forgot that year.
Based on your comment, the NFL should allow a $250 mil cap for the Ravens so they can retain all their draft picks each year they hit free agency
I guess the Steeler way is still conning people. Sure you won’t have any disastrous seasons there. But you won’t win anything either. If going 9-8 and getting blown out in the wild card game is your pleasure, Steelers Nation unite
The typical sour grapes Steelers fans are accustomed to
One thing’s for sure. Queen saw a lot more Lombardi trophies when he entered the Steelers offices than he did in Baltimore
But yeah. Laugh some more about the Steelers Way
The newest Lombardi they won was 11 years before he entered the league.
And the last Ravens win was 11 years ago, when he was in middle school
Meaningless stats must be your forte. Maybe he was simply tired of losing to Pittsburgh over the last 8 games.
Well of course he’ll see more Lombardis in Pittsburgh, the Steelers have been around decades longer than the Ravens.
The Ravens were also the Brownies long before the Superbowl era started… still the same amount of Lombardis in total.
If that’s how things are being viewed then people need to stop declaring the Browns drought to be longer than 25 years. After all, this version of the Browns has only been around since 1999. People don’t clump the Thunder in with the Sonics anymore, and everyone scoffs at OKC claiming the 1979 title.
The Steelers way carries the most SBs. Con that.
If going 9-8
==================
Just so you know, NFL Reference shows them as 10-7. You should write to them and tell them of their mistake.
Who cares. He’s a steeler now.
What a guy ! Took less money per year average n took less guaranteed money over length of deal so he could go 9-8.
I really think you’re underestimating Pittsburgh. With all the talent they’ve acquired I think they can definitely go 9-7-1.
Wish he’d signed in DC. Would have been a good piece in a Dan Quinn defense.
Ravens fan. Indifferent about Patrick. Replaceable. That said, he wants to be on a winner and went the less money route for that shot. That’s cool. Clowney, on the other hand, the Ravens did try to resign but took the money Carolina was willing to put up instead. Not cool.
On the one hand you always want guys on the team who are team first and willing to do whatever necessary to win as a group with general disregard for personal glory. The reality though is that the average professional athlete has about a 4 year career then all the skills, time, energy, effort and sacrifices they’ve made their entire lives to become professional athletes become effectively meaningless to their future for about 75% or so of these guys. So I’ll never fault anyone for going and getting their bag of cash. In Queen’s case it seems like he’s trying to thread the needle and both get a ring and his bag.
I agree to an extent. Clowney has already accumulated bags of cash. He’s been set for life for some time now. If I were in his shoes, prioritizing winning a SB over best deal is where I’d land. IE. Baltimore over Carolina every time. Cheers.
Fans always want that. It’s easy for us to do because we don’t dedicate our lives to being in the best possible shape, then put our physical health on the line every Sunday 17 times a year, at minimum. We don’t spend our entire days in the offseason lifting, doing cardio, recovering, learning new playbooks/mastering current ones, following a strict diet, etc. I’m not saying these athletes live difficult lives–hell, I’d love to make their salaries–but it’s easier said than done to leave money on the table when we don’t have careers that could be snatched away from us with one injury.
Seattle. Lol
Lolz, took 4-5m less to “win now” with the steelers. The CTE is real folks
Can’t tell the man what to do. He has to do what makes him happy, but turning down more money, in his 2nd contract, at his position, was not a smart decision.