Patrick Queen might be a two-time Pro Bowler, but most Pittsburgh Steelers fans are well aware of his struggles since joining the team in 2024. While Queen possesses speed and thumping power when coming downhill, he often lacks discipline in coverage and was nearly void of splash plays despite a full-time role on defense.
On Tuesday, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler posted his article on the top-10 off-ball linebackers in the NFL entering the 2026 season, voted on by league executives, coaches, and scouts. Queen didn't crack the top 10. However, he was listed among the honorable mentions.
And what one NFL exec had to say about him hit the nail on the head.
"He is very good when he turns it on and uses his speed and strength. His play is too inconsistent for my taste," an AFC personnel evaluator told Fowler.
This pretty much sums up what we've all been thinking about Queen.
AFC exec gets blatantly honest about Patrick Queen's inconsistency with the Pittsburgh Steelers
From a physical standpoint, there's nothing Queen can't do that other NFL linebackers can. The rocked-up 230-pound linebacker possesses 4.5 speed that flashes on film, and he's not lacking in the physicality department.
Unfortunately for the Steelers, there's so much more that goes into playing the off-ball linebacker position than that.
In 2025, Pro Football Focus credited Queen with missing 20.3 percent of the tackles he attempted last season (32 missed tackles). Meanwhile, PFF charted that Queen allowed 74 receptions in coverage for 829 yards and three touchdowns. He earned a 43.5 overall grade, which was good for 79th among 88 qualifying linebackers, and his 32.4 coverage grade was the seventh-worst at the position.
Queen lacked any sort of splash, as he had just one sack and one fumble recovery on 1,112 defensive snaps. He did not record an interception or a forced fumble despite starting all 17 games.
So why does Queen even deserve a spot among the honorable mentions?
It's a fair question, considering his struggles last year. But the answer might be that we're currently in a bad era of off-ball linebackers. The best in the league—like Fred Warner and Roquan Smith—are moving out of their primes, while nobody is stepping up to take their place among the ranks.
Patrick Queen isn't all bad, and he certainly has his 'wow' moments with the Pittsburgh Steelers, but fans know his performance has been far too inconsistent, and he'll need to step it up big time in 2026 if he wants to be considered a top-10 linebacker in the league.
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