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Patrick Queen
LB · PIT

Patrick Queen

Position LB
Team PIT
Bye Week —
PPR Rank —

Patrick Queen

NFL player. Position: LB. Team: PIT.

Quick Facts

  • Position: LB (Outside Linebacker)
  • Team: PIT (Pittsburgh Steelers)
  • Draft: 1st round, 2021 NFL Draft (Baltimore Ravens)
  • College: LSU

2026 Outlook

Queen has been a polarizing Steelers defender, but the problem may be role misalignment rather than player talent. In 2025, Queen posted a 43.5 PFF overall grade (79th of 88 qualified LBs) with a disastrous 32.4 coverage grade (4th worst). He logged a 21% missed tackle rate and allowed a 115.5 passer rating when targeted—both among league's worst. However, his 70.5 pass-rush grade ranked 9th among linebackers, generating 17 pressures, 1 sack, and 8 TFLs as a downhill disruptor. The Steelers spent 2025 asking Queen to function as an every-down linebacker responsible for coverage assignments and sideline-to-sideline communication—the exact areas exposing his weaknesses. New DC Patrick Graham plans to redeploy Queen as a specialized weapon rather than a "do-it-all" linebacker. With Jalen Ramsey and free-agent Jaquan Brisker capable of primary coverage responsibilities and Payton Wilson better suited for sideline-to-sideline work, Graham can build packages emphasizing Queen's natural game: aggressive blitzing, gap-shooting, run disruption, and downfield disruptive plays rather than coverage. If utilized in nickel-heavy schemes with more A-gap blitzes and simulated pressures, Queen's natural quickness and burst could return him to Plus territory defensively. (per Patrick Queen's Usage in 2026 Is Key to Steelers Defensive Ceiling - Steel Curtain Network)

Queen is in the final year of his contract and faces trade speculation, with the Rams (bolstering their defense with Myles Garrett and Trent McDuffie) as a potential landing spot should the Steelers acquire Jordyn Brooks. (per four-trades-the-steelers-should-make) Khan is actively exploring a trade for Miami's Jordyn Brooks—a 2025 First-Team All-Pro with 183 tackles—to pair with Queen; if acquired, Brooks' elite production could allow the Steelers to move Queen and clear $4.75M in cap space tied to backup linebacker depth (per Where Could Steelers Add to Roster Before Training Camp?)

2026 Training camp outlook (July 14): Queen enters his third season with the Steelers looking to bounce back from a concerning 2025. The expectation is that this will be his best NFL season yet, partly due to the defensive coaching overhaul. Queen's primary focus heading into 2026 should be reducing his missed tackle rate (21% in 2025, worst of his career) and improving his coverage grade. As the expected green-dot wearer running the defense, his communication with teammates needs to improve significantly. The Steelers' run defense suffered in 2025, and Queen's interior gap assignment and run-stopping must be sharper. Queen's healthiness is also critical—he has never missed a game since the Ravens drafted him in 2020, a major strength. Steelers defensive staff believes Queen can register 130+ tackles, 10+ TFLs, and 3+ sacks if he performs at his ceiling. (per 90 In 30: Steelers 2026 Training Camp Preview Series — Joey Porter Jr., Daryl Porter, Patrick Queen)

Inside linebacker competition and role clarity (July 20-21): Queen remains the established leader of Pittsburgh's inside linebacker room and is firmly entrenched as the defense's anchor. He'll compete with Payton Wilson to see which player is more effective in coverage and special defensive roles, with both expected to handle the bulk of defensive snaps. Cole Holcomb provides experienced depth, while Malik Harrison faces roster uncertainty despite signing a new contract extension. With Patrick Graham running sub-package sets to reduce inside linebacker snap counts, Queen's role may shift toward more specialized pass-rush packages and run-stopping situations. (per Steelers 2026 training camp preview: Inside linebacker - Steelers Wire and Steelers 2026 Training Camp Preview: Inside Linebackers - Steel City Underground)

Role / Depth Chart

Outside linebacker in 3-4 defense. Expected to transition from every-down coverage liability to specialized pass-rusher/blitzer role under new DC Patrick Graham.

Injury Status

Healthy heading into 2026.

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