Could Ravens' Patrick Queen Sign With Seahawks Via Free Agency?
The Baltimore Ravens knew that significant change personnel-wise would be happening this offseason. With over 20 free agents, the front office knows that it is highly unlikely that all return.
The two big dominos to fall for Baltimore are defensive pieces Justin Madubuike and Patrick Queen. Madubuike has already been franchise tagged and a long-term deal is thought to be on the way.
But in doing that, due to the Ravens' salary cap situation, it means that Queen's time in Baltimore is likely coming to an end. With former Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald now the head coach with the Seattle Seahawks, ESPN's Jamison Hensley sees a situation where Queen finds himself in the NFC West.
“His departure has been expected since 2022, when Baltimore traded for middle linebacker Roquan Smith and signed him to a five-year, $100 million deal," Hensley writes. "It seemed unlikely the Ravens were going to invest heavily in another inside linebacker, especially after drafting Queen's potential replacement in Trenton Simpson in the third round last year. Queen will be among one of the top defensive free agents this offseason, and he could reunite with former defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald, who is the new head coach with the Seattle Seahawks.”
Per spotrac.com, Queen has a market value of $18.5 APY so if he were to land in Seattle, Macdonald's franchise would need to stump up some serious salary for him.
In an ideal world, both Queen and Madubuike would be returning for the Ravens as they look to make it to their first Super Bowl since 2012, but with the figures being mentioned and Baltimore's current cap situation, it just isn't plausible.
Queen grabbed his first Pro-Bowl nod in 2023 thanks to an outstanding season that saw him have a career-high 133 combined tackles, 3.5 sacks, six quarterback hits, a forced fumble along with an interception and nine tackles for loss as he and Roquan Smith formed a formidable duo for Macdonald's defense.
But now, it seems likely that Queen will be elsewhere in 2024 and the Seahawks loom as one team that could lure the Pro Bowl linebacker mainly due to his relationship with Macdonald.
