Does Patrick Queen Have Long-Term Future With Ravens?

The Ravens recently signed fellow inside linebacker Roquan Smith to a five-year, record 100 million deal.
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OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Ravens inside linebacker Patrick Queen is coming off his best season in the NFL. 

He started all 17 games and managed career-highs in tackles (117) – also a team-high – sacks (5), quarterback hits (14), interceptions (2), and passes defensed (6). Queen also forced a fumble and had two fumble recoveries. 

The Ravens recently signed fellow inside linebacker Roquan Smith to a five-year, record 100 million deal. 

This raises the question of whether the Ravens have two inside linebackers with mega deals. 

In the meantime, the Ravens have until May 1 to decide whether to pick up Queen's fifth-year option for 2024.

GM Eric DeCosta was non-committal. 

"We were really excited by the way Patrick played this year," he said. "We think he made a jump. He showed play-making ability, and leadership. He just really, really over the course of the season became the player that we kind of envisioned him being. Specifically speaking to the fifth-year option, I’m probably not prepared to make that announcement at this point. Does it make it difficult to sign him long-term? If he’s a great player, we’ll find a way to make it work. If he’s playing at a high level, we want to keep as many good players as we can. 

"So, I would never rule out right now signing a player two years from now, potentially. He’s a good player. I think we have the best two young inside linebackers – the combo, the tandem, it’s exciting – in football. They make our defense a problem for other teams, and it’s something that is going to cause a lot of teams problems moving forward. So, I think we’re in a great position there. I think our defense is exciting, and we can’t wait to see him next year.” 


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Todd Karpovich
TODD KARPOVICH

Twitter: @toddkarpovich Email: todd.karpovich@gmail.com Skype: todd.karpovich Todd Karpovich has been a contributor for ESPN, Forbes, the Associated Press, Lindy's, and The Baltimore Sun, among other media outlets nationwide. He is the co-author of “If These Walls Could Talk: Stories from the Baltimore Ravens Sideline, Locker Room, and Press Box,” “Skipper Supreme: Buck Showalter and the Baltimore Orioles,” and the author of “Manchester United (Europe's Best Soccer Clubs).” Karpovich, a Baltimore native, is a graduate of Calvert Hall College high school, Randolph-Macon College in Virginia, and has a Masters of Science from Towson University.