NFL Free Agency: Commanders to Sign Ravens LB Patrick Queen?
For new Washington Commanders coach Dan Quinn the first big addition to his new roster may come from his new back yard in the form of Baltimore Ravens linebacker Patrick Queen.
According to a recent evaluation of Queen and his likely suitors by CBS Sports that is the outcome that makes the most sense for the player and the Commanders.
"Queen takes the money and runs down the road to the Commanders to play for Quinn," CBS Sports predicts. "Many of his Cowboys players lauded their professional and personal growth with Quinn calling defensive plays, which is a legitimate draw for free agents also looking to get paid. Queen is the first of many dominoes set to fall in Washington's rebuild under a new regime this offseason."
Baltimore Ravens linebacker Patrick Queen (6) runs with the ball after intercepting a pass against the San Francisco 49ers in the third quarter at Levi's Stadium.
Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
While Quinn won't be calling the defensive plays himself - that duty will belong to defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. - the duo come from the Cowboys organization together and we can be sure the new head man in Washington wouldn't have coaxed him into coming with him without believing in his abilities to replicate the success they had previously.
Quinn has openly discussed learning from his past experiences including leading the Atlanta Falcons to a Super Bowl appearance before ultimately losing that job after the 2020 NFL Season.
Whitt has also spoken about his experiences and feeling he's been ready for the job he now holds since 2015.
Both men will bring their shared and individual experiences into this new venture, and the latest lesson they learned when facing the Green Bay Packers last season may help spark this move, according to the prediction.
“Quinn certainly realized the importance of having a strong inside linebacker to negate a team’s run game after the way Aaron Jones brutalized his defense in the NFC wild-card round," says CBS Sports.
It makes sense for Queen to go to a team where he'd immediately be the most dynamic player on the defense, and for the Commanders to bring in an impact player at a position the franchise has long failed to address properly or completely.
Fourth-year professional Jamin Davis is expected to play more of a rush linebacker role in Whitt's defense, similar to the role Micah Parsons filled in Dallas.
Given the history of Whitt and Quinn defensively this would put Queen in more of a coverage linebacker role with primary responsibilities to help stop the opposing rushing attack while also leading the unit on the field.
Queen would likely find this role very comfortable as he was second in the NFL last season with 732 coverage snaps earning a 74.4 coverage grade from Pro Football Focus in the process.
Of course, when Washington does ask Queen to rush they'll do so with confidence after he placed in the top 30 last season among all linebackers in pass rush win percentage.
If Queen does join the Commanders he can agree to a deal with them that Over The Cap projects to be worth $92.5 million over five years with $52 million guaranteed as early as noon ET Monday afternoon.
