General manager Eric DeCosta of the Baltimore Ravens will have a busy offseason as he sorts through all the free agents Baltimore needs to sign. Patrick Queen, a linebacker, will be among those important free agents.
According to Alex Kay of Bleacher Report, the Ravens could be better off parting ways with the standout LB. In an essay titled “Top NFL Free Agents Teams Need to Let Walk Away in 2024 Offseason,” Kay suggested letting the homegrown talent go.
“Patrick Queen is one of a storied line of elite players to man that position for the squad,” Kay said. “However, given that he’s due for a new contract, it remains to be seen how much longer he’ll be with the organization.”
Queen was picked by the Ravens in the first round of 2020, however he was able to enter free agency early because the team chose not to exercise his 2023 fifth-year option.
The estimated contract for the first-round LB is $92 million over five years, according to Spotrac’s market value calculator. Kay clarified, “His projected market value of $18.5 million per season should price him out of Baltimore’s reach.”
Queen’s loss would be a significant blow to the defense. Over the previous two seasons, he emerged as one of the NFL’s top linebackers.
King is a valuable run-stuffer and pass-rusher who plays a minimal amount of time on the field (he played 97 percent of the Ravens’ defensive snaps this past season), ranking second in the league among off-ball linebackers in both sacks (8) and pressures (48) over the previous two seasons, according to Kay.
Queen had a career-high 133 total tackles this season and was named to the Pro Bowl and All-Pro Second Team.
The Ravens’ Positional Investment May Prevent Patrick Queen from Signing
For most teams, it would be unfathomable to let Queen depart, but for the Ravens, it might be vital. Baltimore has already made significant investments in the LB position, which is one of the reasons.
Going forward, Kay said, “Baltimore will be hard-pressed to afford both Queen and Roquan Smith.” A vital member of the Ravens defense, fellow LB Smith was acquired from the Chicago Bears at the 2022 trade deadline.
Smith’s outstanding play was promptly rewarded with a contract from the Ravens. Notably, Smith only last year received a five-year deal earning a record-breaking $100 million (for the position).
For the foreseeable future, the former Bear will be a member of the Ravens, albeit at the expense of the native Queen. Since Smith’s arrival, Queen has played at his peak, and the two of them have developed into one of the NFL’s top LB tandems.
With Smith as his teammate linebacker, Queen has recorded straight career-high seasons in tackles. Queen was able to play with intensity, and Smith took care of the defensive responsibilities.
