It’s not often that players in the AFC North switch sides. So, when it happens like it did this offseason with linebacker Patrick Queen, it is quite surprising.
Ravens head coach John Harbaugh addressed his former linebacker joining the rival Steelers.
“I’ll give him a hug before the game and I’ll root for him except for then,” Harbaugh told reporters, via Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Harbaugh clearly didn’t want to lose Queen, a first-round pick by Baltimore in 2020, but the Ravens were practically forced to as they were salary cap-strapped to begin the offseason.
So, Pittsburgh happily took Queen off their hands as he fills a major hole on its roster. The Steelers have been searching for a sideline-to-sideline inside linebacker since losing Ryan Shazier to a spinal injury in 2017.
Queen should be exactly that as one of the most productive inside linebackers in the NFL since joining the league, posting 454 tackles, 13.5 sacks, five forced fumbles, six fumble recoveries, four interceptions and 15 defensed passes.
The addition of Queen is even viewed by some, like ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, as the “best overall free agent signing” of the offseason.
“Pittsburgh gets a defensive cornerstone at a position that has long been depleted,” Fowler wrote. “Adding a fourth defensive star alongside T.J. Watt, Minkah Fitzpatrick and Cameron Heyward will pay off in the AFC North. And bonus points for stealing Queen from the rival Ravens.”
Pittsburgh stealing away Queen from Baltimore will only add to what is already one of the best rivalries in football.
However, Harbaugh has nothing but love and admiration for Queen even after deciding to switch sides and face his former team at least twice a year for at least the next few years.
“He’ll bring a great football player, great attitude, great work ethic, everything he brought to us. I’m a big fan of Pat Queen,” Harbaugh added.
