Patrick Queen had his best year yet with the Ravens last season, racking up a team-high 117 tackles, including nine for loss and five sacks. In a twist of irony, it also helped spell the end of the linebacker’s future in Baltimore.
The Ravens on Monday declined Queen’s fifth-year option, which will make him a free agent following the season, his agent confirmed to The Baltimore Sun.
Baltimore had until Tuesday to make the decision. Had they picked up the option, it would have cost $12.77 million.
That the Ravens didn’t pick up the option for the 23-year-old was also not a surprise.
Queen’s future was already in doubt after the Ravens traded with the Chicago Bears last season for All-Pro linebacker Roquan Smith, who earlier this year signed a five-year extension with Baltimore for $100 million. Tying up more top-end money at the position was unlikely.
The 28th overall pick out of LSU by the Ravens in 2020, Queen also struggled at times. He lost his inside linebacker spot in 2021 and was moved to the weak side, and he played about five defensive snaps per game fewer than he did as a rookie. Last season, however, he formed a dangerous duo alongside Smith after the midseason trade.
But on Friday, the Ravens used their third-round pick on Clemson inside linebacker Trenton Simpson. Eight minutes later, Queen tweeted, “Sheesh.”
Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta declined to discuss Queen’s status during the draft, saying only, “I love Patrick. Patrick is, in my mind, one of the better [weakside] linebackers in the league. He’s smart, he works his butt off, he has a bright future. I think he’s a Pro Bowl linebacker in the making. In Trenton, we get a guy that was honestly the very best player available at the time.”
It just won’t be with the Ravens as Queen will hit free agency in March 2024, unless he’s traded before then.
While Queen didn’t live up to expectations — quarterback Lamar Jackson dubbed him Ray Lewis Jr. in 2020 — he has proven productive. Over the past three seasons, he steadily improved, with his Pro Football Focus grade going from 29.7 his rookie year in 2020, to 43.5 in 2021, to 70 last season.
Along with Justin Houston, who led the Ravens in sacks with 9 1/2, Jason Pierre-Paul, Odafe Oweh, Tyus Bowser and Smith, the Ravens featured one of the league’s better linebacker units last season. They were particularly good against the run with Smith and Queen in the middle, ranking third in the NFL in rushing yards (1,566) and yards per carry (3.9) allowed.
After the Ravens’ tough 16-14 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Dec. 11, Smith was asked if he and Queen are the best linebacker duo in the league.
“I don’t think that’s a question,” he said. “I think we are.”
Queen has been a big part of that. He, Smith and Seattle Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner are the only players since 2020 to tally at least 300 tackles, 10 sacks and three interceptions.
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