The Pittsburgh Steelers have made a handful of bold moves and acquisitions this offseason, as they prepare themselves to end their seven-year playoff win drought. One of those bold moves was signing former Baltimore Ravens linebacker Patrick Queen to a three-year deal worth $41 million in free agency. Queen was part of a dynamic linebacker tandem in Baltimore with other star linebacker Roquan Smith, who the Ravens traded for in the 2022 season from the Chicago Bears.
Baltimore Ravens
Now Steelers LB, Patrick Queen (right) and Ravens linebacker, Roquan Smith (left) working together in a past practice.
As Smith and Queen had to say goodbye after Queen joined forces in Pittsburgh, Smith shared his thoughts on how he personally feels about Queen's departure.
Queen and Smith led the way for the Ravens defense in 2023, as the Ravens continued to have one of the most dominant units in the NFL. The Ravens were the first team in NFL history to lead the league in points allowed per game (16.5), sacks (60), and forced turnovers (31). Baltimore had four defensive players earn a spot in the Pro Bowl last season, two of those four being Queen and Smith. Queen is coming off of a 2023 season with a career high in solo tackles (84) and assist tackles (49).
After spending almost two seasons together as one of the most feared linebacker duos, Queen will now face off against Baltimore in the black and gold. Some assumed there would be some bad blood between the two, but to this point, neither have shown any hard feelings to each other. Smith recently shared that he is excited to face off against his old partner a couple of times a year.
"But I'm happy for him. I'm wishing him all the best and it will be good to see him twice a year. He's still my guy, but when war is war, that's what it is."
Then war will be war. The 2024 season is looking like it will be a war between four parties, as the AFC North continues to stack up each and every year. Every divisional game played next season will have big implications, and having a former star Raven on the Steelers' defense will just add more fuel to the fire.
Steelers.com
Steelers' new linebacker Patrick Queen signed a free agent record contract with the organization.
Queen will be joining a Steelers' defense that has the pieces and talent to be dominant, but is still looking for the final touch. It's no secret that the Steelers have a ton of playmakers, but the defense as a whole has not lived up to its full potential just yet. The Steelers have needed that star, playmaking middle linebacker for quite some time, ever since the tragic Ryan Shazier incident in 2017. Pittsburgh plans on Queen being the next long-term solution at that position going forward.
Many have curiously speculated if Queen's impressive play on the field was directly impacted by Smith's presence. In other words, Queen has only been playing well because Smith has been leading the way, assuming Queen can't function on his own. Queen responded to this early on in one of his first press conferences, assuring us he can be the guy.
Steelers' And Ravens' Odds To Win The AFC North?
After the Steelers earned the best record within the AFC North last season (5-1), you would think that they'd have better odds to win the division in 2024. Although, that is not the case. According to a FOX Sports article, the Steelers have the highest odds to win the division at +1200. The Ravens are favored to win the North, with the lowest odds at +110.
Jared Wickerham / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers WR George Pickens with the game-winning touchdown catch against the Baltimore Ravens in 2023.
The Steelers have won seven of the last eight against Baltimore, nonetheless the Ravens are the favorites. Having the 2023 NFL MVP Lamar Jackson definitely helps those odds, but the Ravens' defense has been depleted this offseason. The world continues to count the Steelers out, and hopefully they can pull out an AFC North title in 2024 to prove everybody wrong.
What do you think of the new Smith-Queen rivalry? Let us know in the comments below!
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