The Baltimore Ravens knew that they were investing in somewhat of a developmental project when they drafted Patrick Queen 28th overall a few years ago.
Queen, a one-year starter at LSU, entered the NFL with all the physical and athletic potential in the world. He was a super athletic run-and-hit linebacker with the upside to become one of the best players at his position in the NFL.
However, he was still a major work in progress. The Ravens experience both sides of the coin in his rookie season.
Queen struggled as a rookie, but he made the splashy plays here and there that reminded everyone of his potential. Some of that carried over into 2021. Now entering the 2022 season, it’s time for Queen to put it all together.
The Ravens hope Patrick Queen can build upon a promising sophomore NFL season
Queen’s sophomore NFL season started off in a similar way to how his rookie campaign ended. The LSU product looked lost in run defense and was frequently out of position in coverage.
The linebacker position was a major weakness for Baltimore and Queen was a large part of the reason for that. Everything changed, however, once veteran Josh Bynes was brought back and inserted into the starting lineup.
Not only did Bynes play well alongside Queen, but his presence helped take some pressure off the young linebacker. What followed was some of the best football that Queen has played in his NFL career.
That’s what the Ravens are hoping to see from Queen in 2022. Bynes is back and Queen will be looking to take that next step toward establishing himself as a long-term cornerstone of the defense.
The Ravens will have a decision to make regarding Queen’s fifth-year option this upcoming offseason. Another underwhelming campaign could prompt the organization to decline his option and almost seal his fate.
The Ravens need long-term solutions at the linebacker position and Queen must prove this season that he can be a part of said solution. After all, Bynes certainly isn’t a long-term answer.
This is a make-or-break season for Patrick Queen. The Ravens need to see significant signs of development from the young linebacker. If not, they might just be searching for his future replacement next spring.