Teams can improve by selecting from a wealth of Pro Bowl and All-Pro defensive free agents in the 2024 offseason. This calibre of defence is being offered by the Baltimore Ravens in numerous trades, chief among them being linebacker Patrick Queen.
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In a piece for ESPN, Bill Barnwell categorised the free agent linebackers into tiers, with Queen being the best LB in his scheme. “Franchise players” made up his first tier, but according to Barnwell, “this year, though, nobody fits the bill as a franchise-caliber player on the open market.”
Queen was the only linebacker in the class to be ranked in the “Pro Bowl-caliber starters” category. Given that Barnwell forecasts an average yearly compensation of between $16 million and $18 million, it would work out well for the 24-year-old.
Queen was the only linebacker in the class to be ranked in the “Pro Bowl-caliber starters” category. Given that Barnwell forecasts an average yearly compensation of between $16 million and $18 million, it would work out well for the 24-year-old.
The contract projection somewhat falls short of Queen’s estimate made using Spotrac’s market value tool. This summer, Queen might be considering a 5-year, $93 million contract, according to Spotrac.
The fact that all teams’ pay caps increased to all-time highs and increased the amount of money available to players is undoubtedly helpful.
Barnwell stated, “Queen’s inability to emerge as Mosley’s successor was partially reflected in the Ravens’ trade for Roquan Smith. But Queen was able to reach a new level, and he was at his best playing football with Smith.
Now, Queen will look to use that “new level” to reach a new level in pay.
Patrick Queen’s Breakthrough Came at a Good Time
As the heir apparent to the position, Queen was selected by the Ravens in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He was intended to take over as the defense’s leader, but he didn’t seem to be very good at it.
Pro Football Focus gave his 2020 and 2021 grades of 29.7 and 43.5, respectively.
Queen was allowed to concentrate more on being a bruiser and ball-hawk after Smith joined for the 2022 season as opposed to calling defences.
Barnwell stated, “Queen produced career lows in yards per completion and yards per target in 2022 and was very good in 2023.”
Additionally, PFF gave his 2022 and 2023 ratings much higher ratings than his first two league seasons. In 2022, he had a grade of 70.0, and in 2023, a grade of 73.1.
With 133 tackles in 2023, Queen was able to reach a career high in combined tackles. He was selected to the All-Pro Second Team at linebacker and made his first Pro Bowl selection.
Ravens Unlikely to Bring Back Pro Bowl LB
Queen’s tenure in Baltimore appeared to be coming to an end when the Ravens acquired Smith and went on to offer him a $100 million, five-year contract. It was likely that Queen would be performing somewhere else in 2024 when they turned down their five-year option in May of 2023.
The Seattle Seahawks, who have former Ravens coordinator Mike Macdonald as their new coach, Jordyn Brooks and Bobby Wagner as free agents, are “the easy landing spot for Smith,” according to Barnwell.
