Seahawks Lose Top LB Target As Patrick Queen Signs With Steelers

The top inside linebacker in the free agency class is officially off the market, meaning the Seattle Seahawks will have to look elsewhere to address a big need.

In the weeks leading up to free agency, the Seattle Seahawks were heavily linked to Baltimore Ravens star linebacker Patrick Queen.

There were legitimate reasons for the connection, namely that new Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald spent the past two seasons as the Ravens' defensive coordinator and a reunion seemed logical. Combined with the fact that the Seahawks had a glaring need at linebacker, and it seemed like a pretty good match.

However, fate had other ideas. On Tuesday, Queen reportedly signed a three-year deal worth $41 million with the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Ravens' most-hated foe. Just like that, Queen cemented himself as a traitor in the eyes of most Ravens fans.

Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

The Ravens are obviously the team most-impacted by Queen's decision, but the Seahawks are not thrilled about it either.

As mentioned previously, the Seahawks entered free agency with a major need at linebacker. Linebackers Jordyn Brooks and Bobby Wagner, two of the Seahawks three leading tacklers who both started 16 games last season, both hit free agency this week. Brooks already signed a three-year $30 million deal with the Miami Dolphins on Monday, and while Wagner is still unsigned, it seems unlikely that the Seahawks legend will return once again.

Devin Bush, who started three games and had 37 total tackles last season, is also a free agent.

After all these moves, the Seahawks are even thinner at middle linebacker, with pretty much their only options being players with minimal starting experience.

Free Agency Rumor: Ravens LB Queen to Seahawks?

Maybe Queen was out of the Seahawks' price range, as his contract with the Steelers is worth noticeably more than the one Brooks signed with the Dolphins and they opted not to match that. Still, with most of the top free agent options at the position gone, the Seahawks have their work cut out for them when it comes to addressing this major need.