2. Patrick Queen, LB, Ravens
Patrick Queen spent his rookie season with Mike Macdonald as his position coach so the two have some level of familiarity with one another.
But the Patrick Queen that Macdonald coached two years ago is very different than the version of Patrick Queen entering the 2022 season.
Queen made important strides in his second NFL season, especially once paired with Josh Bynes. While some of his inconsistencies in coverage and run defense were still prevalent, Queen looked like a different player at times in 2021.
The hope will be that Macdonald can continue to help Queen develop and unlock the All-Pro potential the Ravens know he has. And there are reasons to believe that’ll be able to happen.
Similar to Martindale’s scheme, Macdonald allows his linebackers to roam all over the field. You’ll often see off-ball linebackers shooting through gaps on the blitz or running sideline to sideline in coverage.
Queen has the speed and athleticism to excel in a scheme like that. He will need to continue improving in coverage, but his skill set is an excellent fit for Macdonald’s defense.
Patrick Queen could take his next step toward stardom under Macdonald’s watch.