All of the attention on the Baltimore Ravens this offseason has been focused on the quarterback position. Whatever they decide to do with Lamar Jackson will impact the franchise for years to come. If he returns, Baltimore has a franchise quarterback for the foreseeable future. If he departs, the search will begin for a new one.

While that is the most important thing for the Ravens to figure out this offseason, it isn’t the only difficult decision that lies ahead. The team also has to make a decision on the fifth-year option of linebacker Patrick Queen.

Queen was selected No. 28 overall in the 2020 NFL Draft out of LSU. Heading into the 2022 season, it was fair to assume that the Ravens were leaning toward declining his option, which is worth $12,722,000 because of a playing time escalator. It seemed even more likely that Baltimore would move on after acquiring linebacker Roquan Smith from the Chicago Bears ahead of the deadline.

But, that decision became more difficult when Queen put together an excellent season. He finished with a career-high defensive grade of 70.0, producing well as a pass rusher. Queen had a career-high 5.0 sacks and 24 pressures, which is certainly encouraging.

With a lack of pass rushers currently on the roster, the Ravens could unleash Queen as a pass rusher more often in 2023. The addition of Smith may have complicated the asset allocation at the position, but his presence seems to have helped unlock some of Queen’s potential.

PFF is predicting that the Ravens will exercise Queen’s fifth-year option and it is hard to argue against that. Baltimore’s defense, for years, has been built around the linebacker position. It has led to a lot of success, so why change the formula now?

Queen and Smith are not yet at their primes, as Queen is turning 24 this summer and Smith just turned 26. They can be the backbone of this defensive unit for years to come, which is something that ownership can be excited about.

Coming off a career season, the Ravens would be betting on Queen continuing his development alongside Smith. It is a bit risky as his PFF grade of 44.5 is 120th out of 144 players. His PFF War of 0.10 is more encouraging and ranks 84th.

But, based on how 2022 went, that is a smart bet to make. With the second level of the defense locked in, Baltimore can focus on filling the other holes throughout the roster.