The Pittsburgh Steelers had their hands full on the first day of the NFL negotiation period. After trading for wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr., the Steelers inked cornerback Jamel Dean to a three-year contract.
But according to the latest Steelers rumor, a surprising move is yet to come.
On Monday, Andrew Fillipponi of 93.7 The Fan posted that his co-host, Chris Mueller, is hearing that the Dallas Cowboys have contacted the Steelers about a possible trade for linebacker Patrick Queen. According to the rumor, both sides are talking about a potential deal.
Take this with a grain of salt for now. But this would be a dream come true for Steelers fans who watched Queen closely last season.
The Pittsburgh Steelers should trade LB Patrick Queen if the latest rumors are true
Queen's performance during the 2025 season was nothing short of a nightmare for Steelers fans. Though he had a few strong games mixed in, which showed off his closing speed and athletic chops, Queen was a liability in coverage and couldn't consistently wrap up.
This was evidenced by a 20.4 percent missed tackle rate (among the worst in the league). Meanwhile, Pro Football Focus credited Queen for allowing 74 receptions on 94 targets for 829 yards and three touchdowns in coverage, equating to a passer rating of 114.1 surrendered.
Queen's 43.5 overall PFF grade ranked 79th among 88 qualifying linebackers, while his despicable 32.4 coverage grade ranked 77th of 80.
Here's the worst part: Queen is set to enter the 2026 season—the final year of his deal—with a $17.19 million cap number. The Steelers could save $13.33 instantly by cutting him loose, but for whatever reason, they haven't done it yet. Perhaps it's because they are holding out hope for a trade.
At the right price, and in the right role, Steelers fans wouldn't mind keeping Queen around for the 2026 season. However, coming off a disgraceful performance and with a lofty cap number, the only thing better than cutting him outright is finding a trade partner willing to take a shot on the 2020 first-round pick.
If a trade involving Queen were to go down, fans can't expect it to be for anything more than a player swap or a late-round pick swap in the NFL Draft. Either way, if the Steelers can ditch Patrick Queen and get something from him in the process, that's a major win for Omar Khan and the Pittsburgh Steelers.