Ravens' Patrick Queen Priced Out of Baltimore's Free Agent Plans?

The Baltimore Ravens didn't pick up linebacker Patrick Queen's fifth-year option on his rookie contract. But it's not because they didn't want to retain his services.

The Baltimore Ravens didn't pick up linebacker Patrick Queen's fifth-year option on his rookie contract.

But it's not because they didn't want to retain his services. Football is first and foremost a business, and as such, money comes into play in situations like that. Baltimore is on the verge of salary cap hell and the $12-plus million payday for Queen in 2024 was just too much to eat.

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But a career year for Queen will make him one of the most sought-after free-agent linebackers on the market, and Pro Football Focus predicts Queen could sign a huge contract.

“Looking at Queen’s entire Baltimore career would not paint a clear picture of his current form,” Zoltán Buday writes for PFF. “He was a completely different player over the past one-and-a-half seasons, morphing into an impact linebacker following the Ravens’ trade for Roquan Smith. 

"Since Week 9 of the 2022 season, Queen has played the fourth-most snaps among linebackers and is one of only eight to have earned PFF grades over 70.0 in run defense and coverage.”

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Spotrac projects a five-year deal worth upwards of $92 million for an APY of roughly $18.5 million. That's also probably too rich for the Ravens, meaning they could lose him.

Last season, Queen tallied 133 total tackles with one interception and 3.5 sacks. Since arriving in Baltimore through the 2020 NFL Draft (No. 6 overall) the LSU product has registered 454 total tackles with four picks and 13.5 sacks.