According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Pittsburgh Steelers have made another major acquisition in free agency by signing inside linebacker Patrick Queen to a three-year contract.
In free agency, Queen was among the best inside linebackers available. He will sign a contract with the Steelers at the age of 24, earning $41 million in three years while playing for Pittsburgh.
After racking up 133 tackles, nine tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and an interception in the previous season, Queen was selected to his first Pro Bowl. He has 454 tackles, 37 tackles for loss, 13.5 sacks, five forced fumbles, six fumble recoveries, and four interceptions in his four years in the NFL.
Queen is now the fourth inside linebacker for the Steelers, following Mark Robinson, Cole Holcomb, and Elandon Roberts. The Steelers are unsure of when Holcomb will return after tearing his ACL, which makes Queen’s signing even more significant.
Anticipate Queen to emerge as Pittsburgh’s best inside linebacker; the team has been trying to find a replacement for Shazier for the past few seasons. They will be hoping that the former LSU first-round pick, who was cut by the Baltimore Ravens, will join them and bring them the much-needed spark.