New Steeler Patrick Queen: I’ve grown – and not just as a product of playing with Roquan Smith
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The two newest Pittsburgh Steelers defensive players played together with the rival Baltimore Ravens.
But because their professional paths coincided only during the 2020 and 2021 seasons, the lower-profile of the two has a unique perspective on his old/new teammate.
That’s instructive, because Patrick Queen acknowledged he didn’t begin to hit his stride as a player until his third NFL season in 2022.
“I watched a game (on television) last year from ‘PQ,’ ” safety DeShon Elliott said of Queen, the Steelers’ new $41 million inside linebacker, “and he ran through a fullback’s face … to go tackle the running back. And that’s when I realized that ‘PQ’ was not ‘Young PQ’ anymore. He’s a grown man.
“So, yes, I believe he’s ready to play football the right way.”
Patrick Queen on why he joined the Steelers, he cites Mike Tomlin pic.twitter.com/0C1SK729Ej
— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) March 15, 2024
Obviously, the Steelers believe so, too, by way of signing him to the richest contract they’ve ever given to an external free agent: three years, at almost $14 million on average per season.
Those who vote on league honors see Queen as an emerging player, too. As a 24-year-old last season, he was voted to the Pro Bowl and as an AP second-team All-Pro inside linebacker.
But Queen’s ascent from a player who was on the verge of perhaps being called a first-round “bust” — just 10 months ago, the Ravens declined his fifth-year contract option — to one considered among the NFL’s best off-ball linebackers isn’t without its skeptics.
Queen’s emergence coincided perfectly with Baltimore’s acquisition of Roquan Smith. Smith has earned first-team All-Pro recognition at inside linebacker during each of the two seasons since he arrived via trade from the Chicago Bears.
It’s not a stretch to suggest the presence of Smith might have helped lift Queen.
“The whole situation is, you know, (Smith) definitely helped me, and I definitely learned a lot from him,” Queen said during his introductory news conference in Pittsburgh on Friday. “But at the same time, I’ve got to go out on the field and perform. I’ve got to play. I’ve got to tackle. I’ve got to do these things. I’ve got to catch the ball.
“So when it comes to (the opinion that), ‘he made me,’ I think I was already on my path that I’m on right now. It just took a little time, and I started hitting that stride at the beginning of that third year. And once (Smith) got here, that just even helped even more. So now it’s my time to go out there and lead and (lift) somebody else up.”
New Steelers ILB Patrick Queen introducing himself to Pittsburgh pic.twitter.com/4jDiSpP7zb
— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) March 15, 2024
Queen was a freshman reserve at LSU preparing for a bowl game when, on Dec. 4, 2017, then-star Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier suffered a career-ending neck injury. The team desperately has chased finding his replacement since and believes it finally has a player Shazier’s equal in Queen.
“Definitely remember him,” Queen said of Shazier. “Super, super fast, would come down and hit some.
“My job is basically to fill those shoes.”
He will do it while wearing uniform No. 6, a notable development because the Steelers have tended to resist giving out single-digit numbers to players from positions that traditionally have not worn them in the NFL until league rules began to permit it earlier this decade.
It could be a sign of respect from the likes of coach Mike Tomlin, at whom Queen turned to in an ostensive effort to seek approval to make that public when Queen was asked Friday what number he would wear. Tomlin nodded with a smile.
“It’s kind of crazy, but they’re going to let me get that single-digit ‘six,’ ” Queen said. “I’m truly thankful that they will let me do that.”
And with that, Queen expressed for what he guessed was “probably like my 30th time saying this” that he “can’t wait” to start playing for the Steelers.
An actual accounting, per an automated transcript, pegged Queen’s “can’t wait” count at eight.
“This is a perfect fit for me,” Queen said as his news conference wound down, “And I can’t wait.”