Eagles should have interest in Ravens starting linebacker
How would Patrick Queen look in midnight green?
Philly fans have wondered that since the Ravens declined Queen's fifth-year option. But are the Eagles just as curious?
Jeff Kerr of CBS Sports said he’d be surprised if the Eagles don't make a call.
In 50 career starts Queen has 321 tackles, 10 sacks, four forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries. He also has three interceptions and more importantly, plays a position where the Eagles are thin.
At the moment, Nakobe Dean and Nick Morrow are listed as the team’s starting linebackers. Morrow has been solid, not spectacular, in six years with the Raiders and Bears and Dean barely saw the field as a rookie.
Beyond a group of special teams players, Philadelphia doesn’t have much behind their two starters. Adding a veteran player like Queen to the mix would make sense for a team that lost both starting linebackers from last season.
Queen’s contract makes sense as well. He’s due to make just over $2 million next year. The Eagles have $12 million in cap space and only fourth-round cornerback Kelee Ringo left to sign.
Last year, Philadelphia traded fifth and sixth-round picks to New Orleans to bring in safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson on an expiring contract. He responded with six interceptions, 61 solo tackles and a sack. Ultimately the team decided not to bring him back, but the formula clearly worked in 2022.
The Ravens say they want Queen back in 2024, but their actions suggest otherwise. First they made Roquan Smith the NFL’s highest-paid inside linebacker with a five-year contract extension worth $100 million, then they drafted Clemson LB Trenton Simpson to possibly replace Queen.
Queen wasn’t happy with the Simpson pick which can only help teams looking to trade for his services. If Philadelphia isn’t one of them, they should be.
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