The Baltimore Ravens are hoping to see a number of young players on their roster take significant steps forward in 2022, but perhaps none more so than linebacker Patrick Queen.
The 28th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Queen has had a bit of a tumultuous two seasons in the NFL. At times, he’s looked the part of the uber-athletic defensive playmaker the Ravens believed they were adding.
But far too often, his inconsistencies — both in coverage and run defense — have gotten the best of him.
Still, the Ravens believe that Queen could be on the verge of a breakout going into his third NFL season. That was the sentiment shared by new defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald when speaking to Garrett Downing of Ravens.com this past week.
Macdonald said that he had seen “a lot of growth” from Queen and, if he continues a career-long trend, we may just see the best version of Patrick Queen yet in his third season.
Patrick Queen could break out for the Ravens in 2022
We’ve heard all of this before with Queen. Last season was supposed to be his “breakout season,” and while he did make noticeable improvements as the year went on, it would probably be a stretch to refer to it as such.
Still, there are reasons to be optimistic this time around.
Queen notably didn’t do much during his time at LSU until his third season. That’s when everything clicked for him and he began to emerge as more than just a role player. He was a leader on that defense and a true difference-maker.
Downing even spoke to Queen’s parents who reiterated that the same was true for Queen’s high school career. It wasn’t until his third year in high school that he officially “broke out” and became the player that saw him recruited by some of the nation’s top schools.
If that trend continues in the NFL, Queen might just be on the verge of a true breakout. That all remains to be seen, but the Ravens are hopeful this time around.
After making important improvements last season, Patrick Queen could be on the verge of greatness. At least, that’s what the Ravens are hoping for.