The Dallas Cowboys have taken three swings at free agent linebackers since the start of the NFL’s two-day negotiation period on Monday. They missed three times, as Quay Walker, Nakobe Dean, and Devin Lloyd agreed to terms with other teams.

Time is running out to land a difference-maker at a position they’ve described as one of their biggest needs from Day 1 of the offseason. Their free agency shortcomings may force them to pursue a trade for an All-Pro linebacker that may be available.

Cowboys in the mix for LB Patrick Queen?

According to Cowboys insider Nick Harris from Fort Worth Star-Telegram, the Cowboys are one of the teams that have called the Pittsburgh Steelers about LB Patrick Queen.

“I’m keeping an eye on Patrick Queen at the moment,” Harris wrote on a social media post. “A handful of teams have called Pittsburgh about a trade here (including the Eagles). Dallas has kept a hand in that mix for this exact scenario, but there are still some things to work through and conversations behind the scenes to be had there.”

Queen is a six-year veteran with one second-team All-Pro season under his belt. His biggest calling card? Availability, having missed no games since he entered the NFL in 2020. He’s a prototypical middle linebacker and could be a difference-maker in Dallas.

For more insight on Queen ahead of the 2026 season, I reached out to our own A to Z Sports’ Steelers expert, Rob Gregson.

Queen has worn many hats in Pittsburgh

Gregson: “The Steelers are playing a bit of a dangerous game if they are truly looking to move on from Patrick Queen. On one hand, freeing up cap space and netting some mid-round draft capital sounds great. However, if the Steelers lose Queen and don’t immediately replace him, LB becomes arguably the worst position group on the roster.

“There is a lot of mixed messaging when it comes to Queen. It would be a stretch to say he’s lived to the highest free agent acquisition price in franchise history, but he’s worn a lot of hats for the Steelers. He’s been the green dot, a focal point in the team’s ability to reestablish a run defense, and he’s a run chase specialist who can flow sideline to sideline.

“He will have the occasional lapses in coverage, and he isn’t always great at the point of attack against blockers, but he is a field general, a sure tackler, and high level communicator. He’s still a starter in this league.”

What would it take to land Queen?

With Queen entering a contract year and a contract that owes him $13.33 million this year, the Cowboys could probably get away with a mid-round pick. However, with no third-round pick, they’d probably need to win this sweepstakes through their 2026 fourth-round pick, No. 112 overall.

Are the Steelers willing to move on that easily from a starting-caliber LB?

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