Baltimore Ravens Planned the Departure of Free Agent LB Patrick Queen Last Offseason

The Baltimore Ravens have lost a ton of defensive pieces this offseason. And apparently one of the biggest wasn't invited back.

The Baltimore Ravens have lost a ton of defensive pieces this offseason. And apparently, one of the biggest wasn't invited back.

And apparently one of the biggest wasn't invited back.

Jan 20, 2024; Baltimore, MD, USA; Houston Texans running back Devin Singletary (26) makes a catch

Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

After declining the fifth-year option on linebacker Patrick Queen's rookie deal that would've paid him $12.722 million in what was thought to be a cost-cutting move, Baltimore didn't even make an offer to the LSU alum in free agency.

Queen signed a three-year with the rival Pittsburgh Steelers on the second day of free agency with an annual value of $13.67 million - the fifth-highest number in the league among inside linebackers.

Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic reported that the Ravens "made no effort this offseason" to re-sign Queen, and that they most likely had a number of other players prioritized ahead of him. One of those players might have been defensive tackle Justin Madubuike.

Madubuike signed a four-year, $98 million contract extension with the Ravens on March 8, shoring up the interior defensive line for years.

The acquisition of linebacker Roquan Smith midway through the 2022 season could've been a sign they were ready to move on from Queen, and then extending Smith with a five-year, $100 million deal soon after finalizing the trade cemented Queen's future elsewhere.

General manager Eric DeCosta drafted linebacker Trenton Simpson - a potential Queen successor - in the third round of the 2023 draft, and it looks like Simpson is slotted to take over Queen's spot on the defense in 2024.

The storyline could not have been written better as Queen signed with the Ravens' most bitter rival in Pittsburgh and will play Baltimore twice per season for at least the next two years.