Steelers LB Patrick Queen faces the facts about his future with the Pittsburgh Steelers following telling comments during OTAs
Pittsburgh Steelers LB Patrick Queen knows the NFL is a business, and he’s treating his contract year no differently despite the noise surrounding him this offseason.
The Pittsburgh Steelers, like many teams prior to the start of the NFL Draft, had a lot of rumors circulating in the months of March and April. Some of them, like drafting a quarterback with a valuable pick, proved to be true.
But others, like the trade of veteran defenders named Alex Highsmith or Patrick Queen proved to be false. Well, back at OTAs for the first time this year (or at least in media viewing), Queen was asked about those rumors and a new extension, and he kept it all business.
Patrick Queen 2025 stats
- 120 total tackles.
- 1 sack.
- 1 forced fumble.
Patrick Queen doesn’t bite on contract questions
“It was talks here and there. Nothing crazy. Obviously, no movement either way. At the end of the day, they [Steelers] got a business to handle. I got a business to handle,” Queen told the media at OTAs via Brooke Pryor of ESPN.
“My business, is go out there and play the best football I can and put myself in a good position, put our team in a good position so that we both would be successful.”
Will the Steelers extend Patrick Queen’s contract this offseason?
Queen is on an expiring deal and headed into a contract year for the first time with the Steelers. The last time that happened, he was a member of the Baltimore Ravens, and they declined his fifth-year option, allowing him to hit free agency, where he signed with Pittsburgh on the latest free agent deal in franchise history at the time.
While it may seem like Queen has struggled to live up to that hype, he’s been a serviceable inside backer. He’s a run-and-chase player who can flow sideline to sideline, but he can struggle with block shedding and coverage responsibilities when it comes to tight ends.
In reality though, the Steelers could have cut Queen before his roster bonus triggered in March. They could have traded him to the Cowboys, who were, and still are, rumored to be involved in the trade market when it comes to stacked backers.
Still, Queen remains, and the Steelers seem poised to have him back as the green dot and starting MIKE backer in Patrick Graham’s scheme. Queen is still just 26 years old and doesn’t turn 27 until just before the season starts. Having him motivated, with the chance to earn a 3rd contract, may be a mutually beneficial proposition for both him and the Steelers.