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The Ravens have 23 unrestricted free agents and just $13.65M in cap space heading into 2024, per Pro Football Focus. Due to this budget crunch, the team looks likely to lose several of their key free agents this offseason.
One of the players who has probably played his last down for Baltimore is Pro Bowl linebacker Patrick Queen. If he does end up leaving, he could look to reunite with his former coach in Seattle.
The Seahawks’ new head coach Mike Macdonald served as the Ravens defensive coordinator from 2022-23 and played a large role in Queen’s development on defense.
If Baltimore does let Queen walk in free agency, Seattle should run to the phone. After Baltimore traded for LB Roquan Smith in 2022 and signed him to a five-year, $100M extension last offseason, it seems probable that the Ravens will set Queen loose.
The Ravens also have a readymade replacement for Queen in 2023 third-round pick LB Trenton Simpson, who showed promise in that year’s regular-season finale with seven tackles and a sack.
In a perfect world, Baltimore would re-sign its 2020 first-round pick after he posted 250 tackles, 8.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, three interceptions and 12 passes defensed over the past two years.
However, this doesn’t seem likely after the team made a large investment in other players at the position. On top of that, the 24-year-old is expected to demand a five-year, $92.6M contract ($18.5M per year), according to Spotrac.
As for the Seahawks, starting inside linebackers Bobby Wagner and Jordyn Brooks are set to become free agents this offseason. If they want to have a fresh start at the position, adding Queen makes a lot of sense.
It will prove costly for Seattle, but the move may just give the team its best inside linebacker since Wagner was in his prime. Plus, there’s no denying the connection Macdonald has with Queen as the coach looks to help the Seahawks defense return to dominance in 2024.
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