No. 45: Inside Linebacker - Patrick Queen
As surprising as it is, PFF did not list Geno Stone among their Top 50 free agents for 2024 league-wide. Stone, who has come out of the blue to have a true breakout season this year, is one of the three main FA-to-be currently rostered by the Ravens and definitely one about to cash in big time next March.
For now, however, the lowest-ranked pending free agent in the Ravens is, according to PFF, off-ball linebacker Patrick Queen.
"Queen’s prowess as a pass-rusher is not captured below (much like Carolina Panthers linebacker Frankie Luvu highlighted above), but it carries significant value in addition to his strong play against the run and in coverage over the last two seasons. His 35 quarterback pressures and eight sacks over the last two seasons are both second among off-ball linebackers. With Baltimore’s addition of linebacker Roquan Smith — the highest-paid player at the position after last year’s extension — and several other pending free agents, Queen should get to test the market and potentially do quite well for himself."Brad Spielberger, Pro Football Focus
While Spielberger mentions Queen's pass-rushing prowess as "not captured below" in reference to his most comparable player in Jamie Collins, he was quick to add, "It carries significant value in addition to his strong play against the run and in coverage."
If the market develops for Queen as PFF expects it to do, then Roquan Smith's partner in crime should expect to land a deal in the $18 million/year ballpark next spring with some $50 million total guaranteed.
Right now, Smith is the highest-paid inside linebacker in the NFL pocketing $20 million per year with only two other players (Fred Warner of the 49ers and Tremaine Edmunds of the Bears) earning $18+ million a pop.
Queen, take a bow. This man is going to be paid mad money and it's more probable than not (as much as it hurts) that Baltimore will end up losing him next offseason. At least they will retain Ro.