If you follow the Pittsburgh Steelers, you already know the name Patrick Queen sparks debates faster than a fourth-quarter fumble. Is he elite? Is he overpaid? Can he bounce back? Let’s dig into everything you need to know about one of Pittsburgh’s most fascinating — and polarizing — defensive players heading into the 2026 season.
Who Is Patrick Queen? The Rise of a First-Round Linebacker
Patrick Queen didn’t exactly take the easy road to the NFL. Born on August 13, 1999, in Ventress, Louisiana, Queen grew up as the youngest of four children and attended Livonia High School, where he starred as both a linebacker and a running back. Wikipedia Small-town roots. Big-time dreams. Despite his talent, Queen had relatively few Power Five offers early on — his preferred destination was always LSU, where he committed without any additional campus visits. Wikipedia That kind of decisiveness? It tells you a lot about the man.
At LSU, Queen evolved into an elite defender. In his junior season in 2019, he posted 85 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, and three sacks — then capped it by earning Defensive MVP honors in LSU’s national championship win over Clemson. LSU Sports After that performance, the NFL came calling loud and clear.
Patrick Queen’s NFL Journey: From Ravens to Steelers
Here’s where the story gets really interesting. The Baltimore Ravens selected Patrick Queen with the 28th overall pick in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft — making him the first LSU player the Ravens had ever drafted. Wikipedia He made an immediate splash, too. In just his fifth NFL game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Queen recorded a strip sack on former LSU teammate Joe Burrow, recovered the fumble, and returned it 53 yards for a touchdown. Wikipedia Week five of your career. Not bad at all.
By 2023 — his final season in Baltimore — Patrick Queen had truly arrived. He set a career-high with 133 total tackles, earned his first Pro Bowl nod, and received second-team All-Pro honors. Pittsburgh Steelers Then came the bombshell. Instead of re-signing with the Ravens, he crossed enemy lines and joined Pittsburgh.
Patrick Queen Steelers Contract: The $41 Million Question
This is where fan frustration really starts. The Steelers signed Patrick Queen to a three-year deal worth $41 million during the 2024 offseason — the largest contract the organization has ever given out in free agency. Yardbarker Massive investment. Massive expectations. The results, though, have been mixed.
Queen played the entire 2025 season hurt, though he didn’t reveal the specific injury — which could explain why many fans felt he underperformed relative to his contract. Yardbarker Credit where it’s due, though. Queen has yet to miss a single regular-season game in his six professional seasons, topping 100 tackles in five of those years. Heavy That’s ironman-level durability, regardless of what critics say.
Patrick Queen’s 2025 Stats and Performance Breakdown
Here’s the honest picture of where Queen stands right now:
| Stat Category | 2025 Season | PFF Rank (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Total Tackles | 120 | — |
| Solo Tackles | 56 | — |
| Sacks | 1.0 | — |
| Forced Fumbles | 1 | — |
| Missed Tackles | 31 | Most in NFL |
| Overall PFF Grade | 44.0 | 78th of 88 LBs |
| Coverage Grade | 31.3 | 83rd of 88 LBs |
Queen earned a 44.0 overall PFF defensive grade in 2025, ranking 78th among 88 qualified linebackers, with his coverage grade of 31.3 placing him 83rd at the position. Pro Football Focus Those are tough numbers to defend. But context matters — he was playing through an undisclosed injury all season long.
Will the Steelers Trade or Release Patrick Queen in 2026?
This is the question every Steelers fan is asking. Short answer? He’s staying — at least for now. Queen was shopped around during the offseason and the Dallas Cowboys expressed interest, but no trade materialized. The Steelers then paid his $2.5 million roster bonus, effectively locking him in for 2026. Steeler Nation
Queen is set to carry a $17.2 million cap hit in 2026, and a trade would save Pittsburgh roughly $10.8 million while leaving a $6.4 million dead cap hit on the books. Yahoo Sports The math makes a trade tricky. The Cowboys reportedly offered only a third-round pick — and Pittsburgh said no thanks. From the Steelers’ perspective, moving on from Queen for just a third-round pick would feel like selling low on a 26-year-old still in his prime. Steeler Nation
What’s Next for Patrick Queen and the Pittsburgh Steelers Defense?
There’s genuine reason for optimism heading into 2026. The Steelers replaced defensive coordinator Teryl Austin with Patrick Graham, giving Queen a fresh system and a clean slate — something that could help him rediscover his All-Pro form. A new voice in the room often unlocks talent that stale schemes had bottled up. Think of it like rebooting a computer that’s been running too many programs at once.
Queen is just 26 years old and still in his prime. If he doesn’t bounce back in 2026, the Steelers will likely move on after the season, as he’s scheduled to hit free agency heading into 2027. So this upcoming campaign is essentially his last audition in Pittsburgh. High stakes. Bright lights. Exactly the kind of challenge Patrick Queen has always risen to — or at least, the version of him that won a national championship at LSU and made an All-Pro team certainly has.
The bottom line on Patrick Queen: he’s not a villain, and he’s not finished. He’s a talented inside linebacker who’s battled injuries, fan criticism, and sky-high contract expectations — all while never missing a game. Whether 2026 becomes his redemption arc or his farewell tour in black and gold, one thing’s for sure: every Patrick Queen snap will be worth watching. Visit Newviralmagazine for more details.