Baltimore Ravens linebacker Patrick Queen knows he has a lot of expectations to meet. Instead of going into his rookie season blind, Queen is using former LSU teammate and current Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Devin White to help guide him through it.
The common theme of Queen’s first press conference at training camp was of ‘meeting expectations,’ and for good reason. Not only is Queen Baltimore’s first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft — with assumptions of immediate results coming from everyone — he’s also next in the Ravens’ linebacker legacy. Queen follows in the footsteps of C.J. Mosley and Ray Lewis before him, a pressure on his shoulders that can’t be understated. More importantly, it’s a pressure very few would ever understand.
White faced a similar set of circumstances entering the NFL. Taken fifth overall by the Buccaneers last year, White was expected to be a Pro Bowl player from the minute he hit the field. Just like Queen, White was the most recent linebacker taken in the first round by Tampa Bay since Hall of Famer Derrick Brooks.
Queen said he’s talked with White often to get his insight. The Ravens linebacker even said he got on a three-way FaceTime call with Brown linebacker Jacob Phillips so they could pick his brain together as rookies.
“We leaned on Devin, and he told us what he did his first year in the league,” Queen said. “I try to take up everything I can from him. Like every day, I’m texting him [and] asking him stuff. Just to see what he did going into his first year, that made me very proud as a little brother to him. I’m just excited to be able to compete against him in this league.”
Though White’s rookie season was less than complete thanks to missing three games due to injury, it was widely considered a success otherwise. In 13 games, White recovered four fumbles, returning two for touchdowns, 2.5 sacks, an interception, and 91 combined tackles. He earned NFC Defensive Rookie of the Month honors and made the PFWA All-Rookie Team.
If Queen can have a similar rookie campaign, the Ravens will be plenty happy.
[lawrence-related id=50897,49489,47832,47399,46562]
[vertical-gallery id=46348]