What follows is an examination of how the Steelers’ recent veteran acquisitions fit in with their new team:
ILB PATRICK QUEEN
The Steelers added a quarterback to their offense with their signing of Russell Wilson. They added one to their defense with the addition of inside linebacker Patrick Queen via a 3-year contract.
A former No. 1 pick of the Ravens, Queen didn’t miss a game in four seasons in Baltimore, something that can’t be discounted for the Steelers, who had numerous injuries at inside linebacker in 2023.
Perhaps the best ability is availability. But Queen (6-feet, 230) brings more to the table than that.
A second-team All-Pro in 2023, Queen is coming off a season that had him record a career-high 133 tackles, with 18 quarterback pressures, 3.5 sacks, 6 passes defensed, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble, and 1 fumble recovery. He also had 9 tackles for loss and 6 quarterback hits.
“It’s basically us going out there playing fast, physical, confident, everybody on the same page,” Queen said of the Steelers’ defense. “When you got a defense on that kind of page there, tend to let the bullets fly the whole game for 60 minutes, that is lethal to the offense. That’s what I can’t wait to be a part of.”
Over the past two seasons, Queen recorded 8.5 sacks and 48 quarterback pressures, both of which rank second in the league among inside linebackers over that span.
The former LSU star is the kind of every-down linebacker the Steelers have sought since losing Ryan Shazier to a career-ending injury in December 2017.
“I remember him. Super-fast, will come down and hit some,” Queen said of Shazier. “So I definitely do remember him. You know, I remember watching live when that (injury) happened. It sucked. I’m glad he’s better
