The Pittsburgh Steelers are elated to have Patrick Queen and expect him to make a big impact on the defense in 2024.
PITTSBURGH — Stealing a Second-Team All-Pro linebacker from your biggest rival is a good idea on just about all accounts. The Pittsburgh Steelers did just that when they signed Patrick Queen this offseason, snagging him away from the Baltimore Ravens. Queen had his best season as a pro last year next to Roquan Smith, and signing him meant the team added a star through free agency.
“You get an opportunity to get a guy like Queen, man; it doesn’t matter about the other components of the equation,” Mike Tomlin said. “He’s just a good, well-rounded football player, and he showed that here in a football-like environment. Can’t wait to get him to Latrobe.”
Defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said that Queen will wear the green dot for the team. That’s not a surprise, especially since the team views Queen as a do-it-all three-down linebacker. And it’s something that he has done before, meaning that Queen should take on the new but familiar responsibilities of the top linebacker on the Steelers defense.
“Well, the thing that I think with PQ is you know, obviously we signed him because he had a great year, but it wasn’t just a one off. He’s played well ever since he got to Baltimore. And we think that he’s a three-down linebacker for us. So, he’ll go in with the green dot – before you ask Mike – he’ll go in with the green dot. And he’ll be the guy that’s going to be out there on every snap, but I think he does a unique thing because he can cover. He can blitz. He can do a lot of thingsand he’s a really sharp football player. So, I’m really happy we have him with us. It gives us an opportunity, you know, to build around him,” Austin said.
Queen has said this offseason that he wants to earn First-Team All-Pro honors. If he can take another step up, this time with the Steelers, he has a chance to earn those accolades. By signing Queen, Pittsburgh added another star to its defense, which is already aligned with multiple stars at each level.
When the pads come on in Latrobe, Queen hopes to make an impression, and the Steelers want to see it, too. Paired with Payton Wilson, Elandon Roberts, and Cole Holcomb, Queen will be the head of the deepest Steelers inside linebacker room in quite some time.
