ESPN insider Adam Schefter offered the reason why Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen has become a sudden source of trade rumors over the last 24 hours. Or, at least, a couple potential reasons. Admitting the situation was unique, Schefter gave his take on Queen’s future.
“Patrick Queen one is unusual because that also continues to float out there,” Schefter said Tuesday on Pat McAfee’s Show. “The Pittsburgh Steelers say they’re not interested in moving on from him. This could be maybe a money issue where he might be looking for more. Or maybe they want him to take a pay cut that he’s unwilling to take right now.”
Monday, rumors circled among multiple Dallas beat writers that the Cowboys were speaking with the Steelers about Queen. A shrinking free agent inside linebacker market connected the dots even stronger after the likes of Devin Bush, Tremaine Edmunds, Devin Lloyd, Nakobe Dean, and Quay Walker all signed big-money deals elsewhere. The Philadelphia Eagles reportedly even showed some interest.
By Tuesday, the noise began to settle over a “snag” in the potential deal. The reason is unclear but Schefter indicates Pittsburgh doesn’t have an appetite to trade Queen away. Doing so would leave them searching for the same inside linebacker answers the Cowboys are dealing with. Payton Wilson has yet to become an everydown player and a rookie would face a tall task filling Queen’s central communicator role.
“So, that one we could pay attention to, but it doesn’t sound like it’s pressing at this moment,” Schefter said.
Is Queen looking for an extension? Entering the last year of his contract, it’s possible. But it’s early to get to the “trade away” point even if the two sides aren’t aligned on the prospect of a new deal. A pay cut seems more plausible. Through two years, Queen’s play has been inconsistent and his base salary sits at $10.83 million. If Cam Heyward was once asked to take a pay cut, Queen isn’t off-limits.
For now, Queen seems set to stay. But if the free agent keeps drying up and leaving the Cowboys without options, their offer could get more aggressive. Just in the way Dallas upped their proposal to land George Pickens one week after the 2025 NFL Draft, the Cowboys could do similar this year. However, Queen is due a $2.5 million roster bonus on March 15 and if the Steelers don’t want to eat that money for nothing, trading him before that deadline is wise.
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