The Steelers have struggled at inside linebacker in current seasons and Queen can definitely change that. The Ravens’ 2020 first-round decide developed right into a Pro Bowler final season, wherein he tallied a career-high 133 tackles, had 3.5 sacks, and one interception.
After inking Roquan Smith to a big-time deal close to the top of the 2022 season, Baltimore opted not to decide up Queen’s fifth-year possibility final offseason. Then the Ravens positioned the franchise tag on defensive sort out Justin Madubuike, guaranteeing that Queen was going to hit the market.
The Ravens would have beloved to preserve Queen, and General Manager Eric DeCosta mentioned final May that he wished to signal Queen to an extension.
However, it was all the time going to be troublesome to achieve this with $20 million common per yr already dedicated to one inside linebacker, plus Lamar Jackson’s contract hit climbing. Queen’s excellent 2023 season made it much more unlikely.
During his 4 seasons in Baltimore, Queen began each recreation. He made 454 tackles, 13.5 sacks, 5 pressured fumbles, and 4 interceptions. After some early-career struggles, Queen developed right into a premier do-it-all again who fashioned a fearsome combo with Smith the previous year-and-a-half.
Now Queen will get to show that he is nonetheless the identical high-impact linebacker even with out Smith subsequent to him, and he’ll get to do it twice a yr in opposition to his former staff.
One fascinating notice about Queen going to Pittsburgh is that Queen advised a narrative final season about Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin “disrespecting” him throughout his rookie season.
“It’s the sport that defines you and makes you a Raven,” Queen mentioned in October of Ravens-Steelers matchups. “When I used to be on their sideline my rookie yr, Mike Tomlin was me, yelling at me, ‘You’re not a Raven. You’re not a Raven. You’re not supposed to be there. You’re not one among them.’ So each time I play them there’s one thing private.”
When Queen was requested if Tomlin was joking, he responded, “I do not care if he was joking. I do not care if he was critical. At the top of the day, I’m in your sideline and also you’re telling me I’m not a Raven. That’s type of disrespectful.”
