Steelers Could Quickly Regret Unforgivable 2026 Offseason Decision

The Pittsburgh Steelers have pretty much an entirely new coaching staff in 2026. While the splash hire was Mike McCarthy coming in to lead the way, other fresh faces have had a lot to do with the team's 5-2 start. Defensive Coordinator Patrick Graham has some serious talent to work with, and his unit is near the top of the NFL in yards allowed per game. If the group continues to play well, winning the AFC North and making a postseason run will be well within reach. Certain guys have started to play very well for the collective in recent weeks.

The season immediately started out in unexpected fashion when Graham no longer had Joey Porter Jr. to work with. The disgruntled cornerback was traded to the Dallas Cowboys following a contract dispute. This move made it necessary for certain players to step up. The campaign started out slow for some, but key contributors are starting to make their presences known.

One of those individuals is inside linebacker Patrick Queen. The defensive signal-caller has had an up-and-down tenure in the Steel City since signing a three-year deal in 2024. It can be argued that he is certainly playing some of his best football as a member of the Black and Gold. This sets up nicely for him as he is preparing to be a free agent come the 2027 offseason.

The Steelers could have negotiated with the defender to extend him, but that did not end up happening throughout the summertime. Now, he will demand a pretty penny once the new league year starts up in March. That is, unless Pittsburgh finds a way to give him a new deal prior to the legal tampering period opening up. One insider is suggesting that the front office should consider it.

In a fan chat for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Wednesday, Gerry Dulac fielded plenty of questions about the state of the team. Someone chimed in about Queen, and the beat writer commended the linebacker for his play.

"They did not target Patrick Queen for an extension and his contract is up after the season," Dulac wrote. "It will be curious to see if they will try to re-sign him. His play suggests they should."

It's fair to note that the Steelers might not have been sold on Queen's play through two years of his free-agency deal that occurred in 2024. Now, however, McCarthy, Graham and Co. may be wishing that an extension was agreed upon. Pittsburgh's defensive green-dot had a phenomenal game in Week 7, and should continue to get better as the season progresses.

The Steelers' priority list in the 2027 offseason may start with quarterback and cornerback, but inside linebacker will be right up there if Queen slips away. The veteran is starting to look like the player who Pittsburgh recruited a couple of years ago. There will be time to extend him come February; however, there is no reason for him to accept a deal unless it is impossible to turn it down.

This will certainly be something to monitor as the season rolls around. Pittsburgh will not negotiate deals between September and January, so nothing is imminent. The play from Queen moving forward could be what forces the Steelers to put something on the table prior to March. There is no doubt that he is starting to perform and serve as a key person on Graham's defense.

Steelers Took A Pretty Big Risk By Not Extending Queen

It was pretty much a lose-lose for Pittsburgh. Queen had not played like a guy who deserved a big-time extension prior to the 2026 campaign. Now, he is showing that he might be worthy of one. Based on the current depth and future outlook, the team could be in rough shape at the position in just a few months. Never say never, but it appears as if the linebacker will test the free-agency market. That could lead to the Steelers regretting the decision not to give him a fresh deal.