Steelers Agree to $41 Million Deal With All-Pro From Division Rival.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have begun free agency by making big moves on major players.

On March 10, they signed Russell Wilson to a one-year contract as their new starting quarterback for the 2024 season.

Then they remained relatively quiet for the first day of the NFL’s legal tampering period. They simply signed a punter, while the rest of the league made significant moves.

On day two of the permissible tampering period, they added another star to a position that desperately needed an upgrade.

To make the deal more better for the Steelers, the player they signed most recently played for a division foe.

According to The 33rd Team’s Ari Meirov, All-Pro former Baltimore Ravens linebacker Patrick Queen told ESPN’s Marcus Spears that he has signed to a contract with the Steelers.

The transaction is worth $41 million over three years.

The Queen made the Ravens regret their fifth-year option decision.
Queen has been a valuable contributor since being picked by the Ravens late in the first round of the 2020 draft.

As a rookie, Queen battled with missed tackles but finished with 106 tackles, 9 tackles for loss, 2 forced fumbles, 3 sacks, and an interception. Following his rookie season, he received the third-most votes for Rookie of the Year.

The following year, he continued to contribute to the defence, recording 98 tackles, including 10 for a loss. He also had a handful of sacks and one forced fumble.

Queen improved in year three, increasing his tackle total to 117 with 9 for a loss. He also defended six passes, intercepted two, and recorded five sacks for a well-rounded performance.

Despite his excellent 2022 season, the Ravens declined to activate the fifth-year option on his rookie deal, making 2023 a contract year for the star linebacker.

He replied with the most successful season of his career.

As a member of the NFL’s most successful defence in 2023, Queen established a career high with 133 tackles, adding 9 for

Queen, along with Roquan Smith, established one of the NFL’s most powerful inside linebacker combinations.

Queen was elected into the Pro Bowl and received a berth on the NFL’s All-Pro Second Team

Now, he represents a significant improvement for a squad that the Ravens will face at least twice per year for the course of his new deal.

A significant need for the Steelers.
During the 2023 season, the Steelers struggled with their inside linebackers.

It was not their best position on the roster at the start of the season, and they later suffered big injuries.

Both Kwon Alexander and Cole Holcomb sustained season-ending injuries in 2023.

That left the team with multiple practice squad players at the position to finish the season.

As a result of the team’s problems at the position they struggled in coverage against tight ends at times. They were also a bit below league average against the run, allowing 4.3 yards per carry.