When the Pittsburgh Steelers signed Patrick Queen to a three-year, $41 million contract during the 2024 free agency period, it was with the intention of fixing the long-troubled linebacker position. Since the tragic career-ending spinal cord injury to Ryan Shazier in 2017, Pittsburgh has looked to quick-fix options before making a heavy investment in Queen.
This was supposed to be the player who finally brought stability back to a position that the Steelers have been known for throughout their storied history.
But despite handing out the biggest free agent contract the Steelers ever gifted, Queen hasn't been the dream linebacker they thought they were getting. In fact, he's much closer to being a nightmare.
Queen was voted to the Pro Bowl during his first season with the Steelers in 2024. However, this decision was met with controversy, as the linebacker's inconsistencies and issues in coverage still loomed. Now things have gone from bad to worse for the six-year vet.
Through his first seven games of the 2025 season, Queen already has 13 missed tackles while allowing 32 receptions (on 43 targets) for 374 yards and two touchdowns. This equates to a passer rating of 115.8 for opposing quarterbacks. The collection of his efforts has been good for just a 42.7 overall grade from Pro Football Focus, ranking 76th among 80 qualifying linebackers this year.
The Pittsburgh Steelers still have a huge linebacker problem that Patrick Queen won't solve
Roughly a year-and-a-half into his tenure with the Pittsburgh Steelers, it's clear: Patrick Queen is not the answer this team was looking for.
Despite his reputation as a former first-round pick of the Baltimore Ravens in 2020 and the fact that he has now earned a Pro Bowl on two different teams, Queen is, at best, an average NFL linebacker who can often be a major liability. It's sad, but true.
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What's even more depressing is that other linebackers the Steelers have let go of over the years are proving to be better options for their respective teams. Robert Spillane has been one of the better NFL linebackers for the Las Vegas Raiders and now the New England Patriots over the past three seasons since leaving the Steelers in free agency.
Even Devin Bush, who looked like a colossal bust in Pittsburgh, is grading out as a top-five NFL linebacker halfway through his 2025 season with the Cleveland Browns, per Pro Football Focus. Last year, Bush finished the season as the ninth-graded linebacker in the league among 84 qualifying players.
While Patrick Queen doesn't lack intensity, he has critical issues in coverage and in space that still haven't been cleaned up in year six. And if we haven't seen the improvement by now, we probably never will. The Pittsburgh Steelers have reason to be optimistic about second-year linebacker Payton Wilson, but they've still got huge issues at the position, and Patrick Queen isn't the answer.