The Pittsburgh Steelers thought they were making a great move when they signed Patrick Queen away from the Baltimore Ravens last offseason. Queen had gotten off to a slow start in Baltimore but finally started to live up to his first-round draft status just in time for him to hit free agency and for the Steelers to pry him away from the team that drafted him.
Unfortunately, the Ravens are having the last laugh so far. Queen had his moments during his inaugural season in the Steel City but it wasn't good enough. He certainly could have been (and still could be) a cap casualty, if Queen is still donning the black and yellow in Pittsburgh this season, he needs to step it up and play like he did when he looked his best.
Zoltán Buday of Pro Football Focus listed Queen as one of his 10 players with the most to prove this year and it's not hard to see why. Queen simply has not lived up to the expectations during his short time with the Steelers and that's why he's on Buday's list.
"Following a slow start to his career in Baltimore, Queen started playing like one of the better linebackers in the league following the Ravens‘ trade for Roquan Smith in 2022. He wasn't able to crack the top 70 among linebackers in PFF overall grade in either of his first two NFL seasons but placed 31st with a 69.7 PFF overall grade in 2022. Queen played at an even higher level in Smith’s first full season in Baltimore, posting a 24th-ranked 73.0 PFF overall grade.
The improvement in play earned Queen a hefty contract in Pittsburgh during the 2024 offseason, but the former first-round pick earned only a 56.8 PFF overall grade this past season, which ranked 65th among 84 qualifying linebackers. The Steelers will look for Queen to return to form in 2025."
Patrick Queen needs to step it up for the Steelers in 2025
There were moments during the 2024 season where Queen looked as good as advertised but he has to show that he can be that player throughout the majority of the season and not just a select few games. The Steelers paid Queen to be a game-changer on the defensive side of the ball and now he needs to play like one.
If Queen continues to be underwhelming, it's safe to say this could be considered one of the worst free-agent signings in recent history. Let's hope Queen can do enough to change the narrative here.