If you’re good at something, never do it for free.
Patrick Queen exemplified that statement today as the Steelers pried away the anchor of their biggest rival’s defense in free agency, landing the inside linebacker on a three-year, $41 million deal.
Head Coach Mike Tomlin is certainly going to love his new defensive captain but moves like this are always polarizing, as Queen will now face off against his old team twice a year in one of the NFL’s most ruthless rivalries.
Queen shared a fitting message on X, posting a gif of The Joker saying, “and here we go.”
— (@Patrickqueen_) March 12, 2024
Queen is coming off his best year, posting a career-high 133 tackles and 3.5 sacks as the leader of the league’s stingiest defense that surrendered just 16.5 points per game and led the league with 31 takeaways and 60 sacks.
Pittsburgh had a strong defense of its own in 2023, allowing just 19.1 points per game, but the team hasn’t had a star inside linebacker since Ryan Shazier’s injury.
These two teams don’t often have star players change sides in the rivalry, aside from Rod Woodson, though he had a one-year stop in San Francisco before signing with the Ravens after a decade in Pittsburgh.
Queen slots right into the heart of this defense alongside Cole Holcomb, Alex Highsmith, and T.J. Watt to form a strong linebacker unit.
At just 24 years old, Queen has blossomed over the last two years following a rocky start to his career where he struggled with missed tackles and blown coverages.
We’ll see if Tomlin can unlock another level to his game and solidify him as the next great Steelers linebacker.
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