Production is the key to longevity in most professional arenas. “What have you done for me lately?” is a common mantra - especially in the NFL. So when NFL executives, coaches, and scouts discuss the top players at the linebacker position, the results speak volumes. Unfortunately, the absence of Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen from Jeremy Fowler’s list is loud enough to amplify concerns.
It’s been a sensitive offseason for Omar Khan’s team. Coaching and roster adjustments are the result of an abrupt but much-needed shift. Amid the moving pieces is the desire for improvement. And I believe there’s no one better to lead the charge than Queen.
The former first-round pick was brought to Pittsburgh to recreate the havoc he caused earlier in his career. A four-year stint with the Baltimore Ravens helped the former first-round pick find his footing quickly. In 2020, the inside linebacker earned Pro Football Writers Association All-Rookie Team accolades. By 2023, Queen earned his first AP All-Pro nomination. He also Baltimore rank first in scoring defense.
It’s easily considered Queen’s best season as a professional. But it was also the last time fans viewed him as a defensive game-changer
Since then, Queen has struggled to find rhythm in Pittsburgh. Sure, he’s been a recognizable figure for fans, but his output has not matched previous production. Or even the handsome salary he’s currently receiving. Last season, Queen played 17 games and earned 120 tackles, a forced fumble, and one sack. That's a bare-bones stat sheet for the leader of a well-revered defense.
And when compared to previous seasons, it’s clear something is off.
Jeremy Fowler's top linebacker rankings will hopefully jumpstart Patrick Queen's Pittsburgh Steelers career
It did not surprise me to see Queen excluded from Fowler’s survey. But that doesn’t mean it's acceptable. Pittsburgh’s front office agreed to a three-year, $41 million deal with the All-Pro right after the Ravens declined his fifth-year option in 2023. It seemed like the right kind of investment, but it has yet to pan out in the Steelers' favor.
No, Queen has not been non-existent, but his production doesn’t match his price tag. The linebacker’s sacks, interceptions, and tackles have declined since joining the Steel Curtain.
But maybe it was due to the scheme - not Queen’s desire to perform.
Adjusting to a new system comes with challenges. Especially if it requires your previous role to change. When Queen joined Teryl Austin’s defense, he ws asked to fill a different role. The flexibility to roam the defense freely was erased. Simulated pressures were used instead of linebacker blitzes, and high pre-snap movement was replaced with more static alignment.
The change in philosophy isn’t an excuse for Queen’s decline. But it does add context to Pittsburgh’s lingering issue. Now, with Patrick Graham running the defense, there should be less room for error and more opportunity for him to play free.
Fowler’s ranking of the NFL’s top linebackers did not provide fans with information they were unaware of. The call for Queen to improve his performance isn’t news at all. If anything, opinions from league executives, coaches, and scouts should light a fire under Pittsburgh’s defensive captain. There are fewer excuses than last year as to why he hasn’t had a breakout year.
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