Patrick Queen shuns Ravens for rival Steelers on insanely cheap deal

The Baltimore Ravens went into the offseason likely expecting standout linebacker Patrick Queen to leave in free agency. Baltimore didn't have a ton of money available to pay some top-flight free agents, and Queen's standout 2023 season may have pushed him outside of their price range.

Queen was projected to have a very robust market, as he was named a Pro Bowler and amassed a career-best 133 tackles. He and Roquan Smith formed what many considered to be the finest linebacker duo in the league. The partnership did not last very long, however.

Not only did the LSU product leave the Ravens after four up-and-down seasons, but he completely threw expectations out of the window by signing with the hated Pittsburgh Steelers. To make matters even worse, Queen signed a sweetheart deal below what many projected he would receive from a contender.

Queen's contract is only for three years and $41 million, which seems like a bargain given the state of the linebacker market. Queen is the second Ravens defender in as many days to leave for a division rival, as safety Geno Stone agreed to terms with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Patrick Queen leaves Baltimore Ravens for Steelers on three-year contract

Queen is going to make an already stout Pittsburgh defense much more difficult to crack, as they now have one of the fastest linebackers in the game at their disposal. Queen's coverage skills were much improved, and he became a fairly impressive blitzer under Mike Macdonald's watch.

The Ravens prepared for this departure. In addition to the Smith trade in the 2022 season, they spent a third-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft on Trenton Simpson and signed Malik Harrison to a one-year contract in the early stages of free agency. The Ravens had a price in their mind, and Queen exceeded it.

The Steelers are always going to be a tough opponent thanks to Mike Tomlin and a talented defense, and the additions of Queen and Russell Wilson only made them more formidable. Losing Queen isn't cause for too much alarm, but watching him go to Pittsburgh has to sting to some degree.