The Pittsburgh Steelers are in the thick of it with free agency, but rumors are rapidly spreading that the team may trade Patrick Queen. After an explosive day for off-ball linebackers, a youthful starter could be on the move.
Thankfully, the Steelers will have to make their decision by March 13th, so we will know sooner than later if Queen is truly available.
Queen has a $2.5 million roster bonus due to him on that day. If Queen isn’t cut or traded before that day, he automatically gets that sum from the Steelers. If he were cut, traded, or even retired after that day, those funds are still his.
In short, Pittsburgh won’t pay that if they intend to get rid of him. That means 'deadline day' is quickly approaching for the team and Queen.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are down to the wire if they want to trade LB Patrick Queen
Frankly, I’m shocked that teams are even considering Queen.
His contract is relatively bloated as he enters the final year of a three-year, $41 million deal. For the Steelers, Queen is set to have a cap number of over $17.19 million for 2026. However, a team could ink him to a new deal and rework his contract.
Because of this, you aren’t getting much for Queen. That said, getting a day three pick for a player who has failed to live up to expectations is better than nothing if you truly want to wash your hands of Queen.
On the other hand, you could also have Queen play out his final year of the deal and sign somewhere in free agency for a comp pick value similar to what you would get this year. That is a messier formula, but it is worth considering.
This won’t be a long process, though. Either the Steelers are in or out on Queen—and that has to be determined in a few days. Trade talks won’t linger, and the only way Queen is traded after March 13th is if the Steelers end up being sellers at the trade deadline during the season.
Personally, I would trade Queen if you can get a pick for him (or even a 2027 pick) and look to sign someone else. That hurts the depth in your linebacker room, but we have seen lower-end linebackers thrive leaguewide when given their shot, and the Steelers would free up over $13 million in cap space by not having him on the team.
Trading Queen, signing a veteran, and drafting someone in a deep linebacker class makes sense. No matter what I want to do, we should know the Steelers' answer by this Friday.