NFL Free Agency: Commanders Land LB From Crosstown Rival?
It won't be hard for the Washington Commanders to improve on the defensive side of the ball after they ranked last in points (30.5) and yards (388.9) allowed per game.
With the most cap space in the NFL and five picks in the top 100 of the 2024 NFL Draft, first-year general manager Adam Peters will have his chance to add building blocks on both sides of the ball through free agency and the draft. CBS Sports predicted landing spots for the top 2024 free agents and had the Commanders landing Baltimore Ravens linebacker Patrick Queen.
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.
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"Since Roquan Smith's arrival, Queen has turned a corner at the heart of the stingy Ravens defense," CBS Sports writes. "But he's likely to cash in elsewhere. Washington's new general manager hails from San Francisco, where LBs are key."
The San Francisco 49ers have had one of the most dominant defenses in recent years, and linebackers Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw have been at the heart of their success. Warner has been a first-team All-Pro in back-to-back seasons, while Greenlaw has had at least 120 tackles in the last two years.
Queen put together one of the best seasons of his young career after not having his fifth-year option picked up, as he had a career-high 133 tackles with nine for a loss, six quarterback hits, 3.5 sacks, six passes defended and an interception. His play led to him making the second-team All-Pro and the Pro Bowl for the first time in his career.
Improving the defense has to be one of Peters' priorities heading into his first season at the helm in Washington. Adding a linebacker like Queen, who appears to be entering his prime and is coming off a career year, would be a step in the right direction.
