NFL Analysis Network

Ravens Make Bold Decision With Patrick Queen’s Fifth-Year Option

The Baltimore Ravens completed their biggest task of the offseason hours before the 2023 NFL Draft took place. They agreed to a long-term contract with quarterback Lamar Jackson, as the two sides worked out a five-year deal that was the largest in NFL history.

With Jackson now locked in, Baltimore could focus on other needs in the 2023 NFL Draft. They addressed one major one in Round 1, selecting Boston College wide receiver Zay Flowers. With Odell Beckham Jr. signing recently, the receiving corps for the Ravens is starting to really take shape.

The selection that the team made in the third round is what raised some eyebrows. Clemson linebacker Trenton Simpson was selected and attention quickly turned to the incumbent at his position, Patrick Queen.

A decision had not yet been made about the fifth-year option on Queen’s contract. During the draft, Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta was non-committal when asked to address his status.

“We love Patrick [Queen]; I love Patrick. Patrick is, in my mind, one of the better [weakside] linebackers in the league. He’s smart, he works his butt off, he has a bright future. I think he’s a Pro Bowl linebacker in the making. In Trenton, we get a guy that was honestly the very best player available at the time.”

Just two days after the draft concluded, we now have the answer. The Ravens have opted to decline the fifth-year option on Queen’s deal, putting him on track to become a free agent in 2024. His option would have been worth $12,722,000 with a Playtime escalator.

While this will be seen as a surprising move by some, the writing has been on the wall for a while now; Simpson’s availability in the third round sealed his fate. When the Ravens acquired Roquan Smith from the Chicago Bears ahead of the trade deadline in November and made him the highest-paid linebacker in NFL history, he didn’t bode well for Queen’s chances of sticking around.

There should be a strong market for Queen, whether it is teams looking for an upgrade ahead of the deadline or once he hits free agency. The No. 28 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft is coming off the most productive season of his career in 2022.

The Ravens deployed him more as a pass rusher, as he had 24 total pressures and five sacks. His 70.0 defensive grade was also the best of his career and he is one of only three players, along with Smith and Bobby Wagner, to record at least 300 tackles, 10 sacks and three interceptions since 2020.

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