Following their season-ending against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship, the Baltimore Ravens prepare for an offseason of roster turnover as several important players are set to hit free agency in a few months.
One of those players is inside linebacker Patrick Queen. Queen’s first few years in the NFL were rocky after being drafted out of LSU by the Ravens in the 2020 NFL Draft, but the speedy linebacker stayed the course and came out the other side as a second-team All-Pro in his fourth season.
With Baltimore trading for and signing star inside linebacker Roquan Smith to a massive contract last season, the writing has been on the wall that Queen’s time with the team was likely ending. While cleaning out his locker at the end of the season, Queen was asked if he wanted to play with the Ravens in the future.
“Of course,” Queen said. “It’s where I started it at, so it would definitely be nice if I’m back. At the same time, I just have to do what’s best for me [and] do what’s best for my family. Then, [the Ravens] have to do what’s best for them on the other side as well. Wherever that leads to, it’s up to God.”
It would be difficult for Baltimore to pay two inside linebackers top-of-the-market contracts with a quarterback now taking up a sizable portion of the salary cap. Smith and Queen made for an incredible duo over the last two seasons, but Sunday may have been the last time they will take the field together.