ExtremeRavens Posted March 12 Posted March 12 Four days after the Ravens signed one of their defensive stars to a four-year contract extension, they watched another one walk out the door for richer pastures. Inside linebacker Patrick Queen reportedly agreed to a three-year, $41 million contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Tuesday, according to ESPN. The news comes after the start of the NFL’s legal tampering period kicked off Monday. After signing All-Pro inside linebacker Roquan Smith to a five-year, $100 million deal last year, drafting inside linebacker Trenton Simpson in the third round and declining Queen’s fifth-year option last summer, his departure was not unexpected. Still, it’s a blow to a defense that was one of the best in the NFL last season and is facing major changes. Outside linebackers Jadeveon Clowney and Kyle Van Noy are also free agents, while safety Geno Stone reportedly agreed to a deal Monday with the AFC North rival Cincinnati Bengals and cornerback Ronald Darby to one with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Baltimore also lost its defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald, who left to become the Seattle Seahawks’ head coach, and defensive line coach Anthony Weaver, who was hired as the Miami Dolphins’ defensive coordinator, among other staff changes. Filling the void for Queen, 24, could also be difficult. Drafted 28th overall out of LSU in 2020, he surpassed his career-high in tackles for a second straight year with 133 this season and added 3 1/2 sacks, six pass breakups, an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery, and was selected to his first Pro Bowl. He also proved durable, playing through injuries while not missing a game in his four seasons with the Ravens, and was one of the team’s emotional leaders. Along with Smith, who arrived via a trade with the Chicago Bears midway through the 2022 season, the two formed perhaps the best inside linebacker duo in the league and they were the vocal leaders of a defense that became the first to lead the league in sacks, takeaways and points allowed per game in the same season. But the more success Queen had the more obvious it became the Ravens would not be able to afford to keep him, especially after signing quarterback Lamar Jackson to a five-year, $260 million extension last year and defensive tackle Justin Madubuike to four-year, $98 million extension last week. Baltimore also has several other holes to fill, including on the offensive line and at running back. While general manager Eric DeCosta has said that he wanted to see if there would be a way to keep Queen, he acknowledged the difficulty of doing so given the team’s salary cap restraints. “You just can’t keep every single player on your team,” DeCosta said Monday. “That’s a frustrating aspect of this job that I have.” Queen likewise said at the end of the season that it would be “nice” to come back but also said he had to do what’s best for me, what’s best for my family.” This story might be updated. View the full article Quote
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