The Pittsburgh Steelers have a weird look in Latrobe ahead of the 2024 season. There are many new faces after the Steelers completed one of their most active offseasons in recent memory. The quarterback room looks completely different as no one at the position was in Pittsburgh in 2023. There is also a new star on the defense at linebacker: Patrick Queen. Queen flipped sides on one of the most intense rivalries in the NFL in 2024, leaving the Baltimore Ravens in free agency.
Queen broke out in 2023 and was named an All-Pro, and now he will wear the green dot in Pittsburgh. He is at his first destination training camp of his NFL career, and will officially be able to put the pads on for practice on Tuesday. This is a day all linebackers look forward too, as they are physical players who want to set the tone for the defense. Queen spoke to the media ahead of practice Sunday, and Joe Rutter reported that the linebacker is looking forward to being able to hit.
The linebacker essentially made the point that he isn't scared of anyone on the offense, and it doesn't matter who he goes against in a one-on-one drill. This may come back to bite him if he doesn't perform when the drill rolls around, but it makes sense for him to be confident since he is one of the best linebackers in the league.
The Steelers are one of the few teams in the league that still have multiple full contacts periods throughout training camp, and even put on hitting drills. They go full contact, bringing the ball carrier all the way to the ground, during some team periods. They will also put on a few hitting drills, like the one-on-ones mentioned by Queen. This is why Pittsburgh is always considered one of the most physical organizations in the league, and a big reason why they always have a staunch defense.
Queen is a physical, athletic linebacker. He is a reliable tackler and has good ball skills, but there are definitely some offensive players in Pittsburgh that could give him a run for his money in one-on-ones. The obvious candidates are Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren. There is also Cordarrelle Patterson, but that matchup won't happen due to Patterson's injury. He is also a veteran who probably wouldn't participate in such drills regardless.
No one in the wide receiver room could give Queen a run for his money, but a matchup with tight end Darnell Washington would be entertaining. Obviously no one wants to see any injuries in these drills, but explosive, clean hits always play.
Steelers' Patrick Queen Looking To Prove He Is Elite
While Queen had a great year in 2023, being named an All-Pro and a Pro Bowler, he doesn't receive much credit. Many pundits and media personalities attribute a lot of his success to his former partner-in-crime, Roquan Smith. Smith is one of the best linebackers in the league, but so is Queen. Now Queen gets to prove that since he has moved on from Smith and the Ravens.
The 2024 season should be fun for the fifth-year linebacker. He gets to build on his success from 2023 while facing his former team twice. When he suits up against Baltimore there should be an extra chip on his shoulder.
