3 days ago
Ex-Ravens standout has become a steadily declining player on a rival's roster
Ex-Ravens standout has become a steadily declining player on a rival's roster
There is only one feeling that compares to basking in the glow of the Baltimore Ravens' success, and that's reveling in the misery of the hated Pittsburgh Steelers. Wins by the Ravens are matched only by losses from the Black and Gold. Every Steelers failure feels like a Ravens triumph. And so on... And, so on...
The Ravens' starting quarterback is a two-time MVP. The Steelers don't have one. We think, eventually, they'll add Aaron Rodgers, but no one is certain about that. Rodgers, in the meantime, is speaking in Morse code.
None of this can be mentioned without bringing up one of the more recent betrayals, Patrick Queen leaving Baltimore to sign with Pittsburgh. If you've been paying attention, however, you've noticed things aren't working out for Queen in his new city.
Patrick Queen continues a downward spiral in Pittsburgh.
Football is a business. Fans understand that, so when former Ravens move on, the heart tells them they should wish their former heroes well in other cities. Yeah... No one is wishing Patrick Queen well in the Steel City.
Queen hasn't looked as good as he did in Pittsburgh as he did in Baltimore while playing next to Roquan Smith, and it isn't like he doesn't have help. Whether we want to admit this or not, that T.J. Watt fella is pretty good. So, what's going on?
It appears regression is setting in. Queen tallied one sack in 17 starts last season, the lowest output of his career, and it seemed like his job would have been made easier with teams having to prepare for one of the greatest sack artists of an era on the other side of the defensive formation.
Mason Cameron of Pro Football Focus stacked the NFL's 32 best linebackers entering the 2025 season. Roquan Smith landed fourth, which seems respectable and too low. Queen, after two excellent seasons with the Ravens, landed at 16. Cameron offers his theory:
"Queen wasn't as strong in his first trip out in Pittsburgh. His 56.7 PFF overall grade fell well short of the 70.0-plus marks he posted in the two seasons prior. Now more acclimated to the Steelers, Queen may return to his baseline, which is 64.0-plus PFF grades in run defense, coverage and pass rushing."
Patrick inked a three-year, $41 million deal. That made him Pittsburgh's highest-paid external free-agent addition in Steelers history. They have to be feeling some buyer's remorse as he'll carry an $18 million price tag during the coming season. He'll cost the organization $14 million in dead money if they elect to move on.
There's no way Pittsburgh shelled out that type of coin and expected to receive the 16th-best linebacker at the professional level, along with a one-sack season, as part of their return on investment. Meanwhile, Ravens fans aren't complaining.
It's always better to move on from players one year early than it is to move on one year later, and if further validation is needed, look no further than Trenton Simpson. He's been a joy to watch since Patrick Queen's defection to the dark side.
