Steelers positional analysis: More splash sought from Patrick Queen, rest of inside linebackers

This is the eighth part of a series examining the Pittsburgh Steelers’ roster, position by position, heading into the offseason.

Today: Inside linebackers

The Pittsburgh Steelers found an ironman for the middle of their defense when they signed Patrick Queen to a three-year, $41 million contract in March. It was the biggest contract the franchise had given to a free agent.

Queen didn’t miss a snap the entire season, and he led the Steelers with 129 tackles from his inside linebacker position.

Upon reflection, though, it remains to be seen whether the Steelers got enough bang for their buck. Queen’s lack of impact plays stood out on a defense that wilted down the stretch and was gouged for 299 rushing yards in a wild-card playoff loss at Baltimore.

Queen had seven pass breakups and two forced fumbles, but he also totaled just one sack in the regular season.

He also identified a disturbing trend after the Steelers’ season ended with a 28-14 loss that featured a 21-point deficit in the first half.

“I think we just got too comfortable,” he said. “We started chasing too many things, and I think we just let off the pedal, in all seriousness. That stuff, you can’t have happen. That’s why we are in the position that we’re in.”

Queen will count nearly $18 million against the salary cap in 2025, although the Steelers could save $13.8 million in cap space if they cut him with a post-June 1 designation. The organization, though, already has one free agent at the position in Elandon Roberts and likely wants to continue to build around Queen at inside linebacker.

In his second year of a two-year, $7 million contract, Roberts was on the field for just 44% of the defensive snaps, often giving way to Payton Wilson on second and third downs. It was the fewest percentage of snaps played for Roberts since 2019.

Roberts said he would prefer to remain with the Steelers, although he acknowledged changes would be coming to the organization after another first-round playoff exit.

“We’ll go through this offseason and start over, and we’ll have those discussions,” he said.

The Steelers also must decide whether to retain Cole Holcomb for the final year of his three-year, $18 million contract. Holcomb spent the season on injured reserve recovering from the devastating knee injury he sustained midway through 2023. His contract calls for $6 million in salary and a roster bonus that the Steelers could save by making Holcomb a cap casualty.

Wilson is a piece that figures into the future of the position. He will be entering his second season after starting four games and playing in all 18. He played 45% of the snaps yet finished fourth on the team with 72 tackles.

Under contract: Patrick Queen ($17.693 million), Cole Holcomb ($7.64 million), Payton Wilson ($1.271 million), Mark Robinson ($1.128 million), Devin Harper ($1.03 million).

Impending free agents: Elandon Roberts, Tyler Matakevich

Outside perspective: Pro Football Focus, on a free agent each team can’t afford to lose: “(Elandon) Roberts has never been a true three-down linebacker, but he provides excellent value in run support. Only three other qualified defenders at any position in 2024 recorded a higher PFF run-defense grade than Roberts’ 91.0 mark. Given Patrick Queen’s and Payton Wilson’s struggles in that area this past season, the Steelers would be wise to give the veteran Roberts another short-term deal to do what he does best.”