The question of whether the Philadelphia Eagles might be interested in trading for Patrick Queen is a complicated one. For starters, he plays a position not usually valued by the organization. Want proof? They just let two very skilled linebackers walk out the door in free agency and chose not to draft a replacement.
Which Linebackers are currently on the roster?
Nolan Smith might be listed as a linebacker but he’s a violent pass rusher, another “Weapon of Mass Destruction” sure to mentor under Pro Bowler Haason Reddick. The Eagles seem ready to enter the 2023 campaign with newcomer Nicholas Morrow and red-shirt freshman Nakobe Dean as their two starters. Not the end of the world, by any means.
What about Patrick Queen?
But, the idea of brokering a deal for Patrick Queen — the 28th overall pick from the 2020 NFL draft — has to be tempting for a team looking to get back to the Super Bowl. The 6-foot, 237-pounder was immediately linked to the Eagles the minute Baltimore declined to pick up his fifth-year option. The internet ran wild with pictures of Queen in midnight green, including a few plugged-in reporters evoking his name in trade proposals.
Jody McDonald of JAKIB Sports thinks giving Baltimore a Round 2 pick for Queen and a Round 4 pick might get a deal done. Remember, the Eagles own two Round 2 picks in 2024 (via a blockbuster trade with New Orleans). McDonald said: “He’s a really good player. If I’m the Eagles, I do that in a heartbeat.”
Philly Voice’s Jimmy Kempski hopped on the trend, but lessened the offer: “Patrick Queen could be an option for a Day 3 pick, or the Eagles could wait for another linebacker to become available.”
Patrick Queen sounds like the typical low-risk, high-reward player that Roseman loves, especially since he carries an affordable $2.2 million contract. The Eagles could rent him for one year, then figure out whether to hand him an extension (see: C.J. Gardner-Johnson). This assumes the Ravens want to get rid of their former first-round pick. Queen seemed unhappy after the Simpson pick, but he remains under team control. What happens next may come down to whether Patrick Queen forces the issue and requests a trade out of town. There’s no certainly no mistaking his talent: 321 total tackles (28 for loss) in 50 career starts, with 10 sacks, 27 QB hits, 5 fumble recoveries, and 9 pass breakups.
Eagles Dismiss Notion of Not Valuing Linebackers
General manager Howie Roseman was adamant last offseason in wanting to dispel the myth about the franchise not valuing linebackers. He signed Kyzir White in free agency and drafted Nakobe Dean in 2022, following those moves up by bringing in Nicholas Morrow in 2023. He definitely has a strategy there: to find “lottery tickets.” And, quite frankly, it’s mostly worked out in recent years.
When asked last offseason if his perception of linebackers had changed, Roseman disagreed and stole a favorite Jalen Hurts’ line to explain why.
Roseman said: “No, I don’t know if there’s a perception that we go into draft meetings or free agency meetings and take the off-ball linebackers and say, “No thank you.” For us, it’s as much as possible keeping the main thing the main thing, and it’s always going to be about making sure the [offensive line] and [defensive line] are really strong.”
The Eagles will head into the 2023 season with Dean and Morrow as the assumed starters at linebacker. There isn’t much depth or competition behind them: Christian Elliss, Shaun Bradley, Davion Taylor, Patrick Johnson, Kyron Johnson. Don’t be surprised to hear rumors of them calling the Ravens to gauge the price tag on Queen. And don’t be surprised to see them bypass Patrick Queen and add a cheaper option off the waiver wire.
Photo by Nicole Fridling/Icon Sportswire
