Will Queen be here next year?

I agree that Wilson getting demoted like this is bad.

But given where we are in the competitive window (i.e., we don't have a competitive window), there is an argument that it's better asset management to turn Queen into a player who might be on the team when we have a chance at competing for more than a playoff berth.

And then we can also evaluation what Wilson might look like in the defensive QB role with a run stuffer beside him. This might make the D worse...but that might be better for the team because we aren't going to do anything this year anyway.

Personally, I tend to believe that Queen has more value to the team than he will on the trade block. Because I don't think we'll get enough back in trade.

And I do think that if we can simplify Queen's role he can still be an impact player. This is exactly what happened to him in BAL. He looked "just OK" when he had to wear the dot. But without it, he looked very good. I think it's a tough thing for a lot of guys to do.

I hope that a new DC / scheme / game plan can make better use of the physical traits of Queen and Wilson. I'm pretty interested to see what happens on D as we shake up the snow globe here.

I'd imagine we won't get opponents talking about how we always run the same few plays and use the same nomenclature this season.

 

I think this is generally true.

Although it is also true that us having paid the roster bonus would increase his trade value since we're paying him already and the team that would acquire him would be less on the hook for the cap hit.

But I strongly agree with your argument that it's not likely that we'll trade Queen.

Having been on a board with Joel before, I think he really loves the draft. And trading guys would give us draft picks. Which means more dreaming about what we could do in the draft.

I think everyone is tradable depending on the return. And I think the return we'd get on Queen would be less than his value to the team.

I thought the same thing about Pickens last year...but Queen doesn't have the same locker room issues as Pickens did. Very likely he stays put. We don't have anyone else to wear the green dot (although I admit that I'd like to see Wilson try because I really want Wilson to succeed despite him losing snaps to a replacement level player last year.).

 

Top Remaining Free Agent ILBs (2026)

• Bobby Wagner (Age 35-36): After a 162-tackle season with the Commanders, he remains a high-volume tackler and leader.
• Leo Chenal (Age 25): Athletic, productive linebacker from the Chiefs, offering pass-rush and run-stopping versatility.
• Nakobe Dean (Age 25): A high-upside, quick-diagnosing linebacker who set a career-high in sacks (4) in 2025 despite injury limitations.
• Matt Milano (Age 31): Highly skilled in coverage, though coming off an injury-plagued 2025 season.
• Malcolm Rodriguez (Age 27): A strong run-stuffer who previously showed high potential before a 2025 injury.

AND we can draft an ILB.

There are options that are way cheaper for the Steelers. Parts of Queen's game sucks. He is not what a team is looking for in a 3 down linebacker. You can look up his 2026 cap# and tell me if he's worth it.

 

Dump Queen and his big cap #.

We would save $10,830,000 in cap space. That is enough cap space to buy a cheap 2 down run defender and there is always the draft.

BUT before we cut him, we should first try and trade him.

 

Thanks Joel.

Any idea which of these guys wore the green dot (and did well while doing it)?

Sometimes people complain about moving OL from the left to right side or from T to G. But I think going from a cog in the system (no green dot) to the QB of the defense (green dot) is really hard for guys to do.

Also...you were talking about the cap hit on Queen. When you look at the dead money on him plus a contract with one of these guys (generally hurt and / or old), what do you think the net change in the cap is?

Generally, there are reasons that guys are still UFAs when we get to the "bottom of the barrel UFA" portion of the off season. Looks to me like the red flags on these guys are age and injuries. But if you think one of these guys is someone you like, the reason they might still be available is that they want a big payday that the rest of the league doesn't think they deserve.

 

Who do you have wearing the dot in this scenario?

I assume you're moving Wilson to Queen's role and having him run the defense. Something he's never done in the NFL. The AI search on google suggests that Wilson did wear the dot in college.

If we were focused on the medium term, I think this is what we would do (because I doubt we extend Queen now or next offseason before his contract expires). But Rooney prioritizes the present over the medium term. And Queen in that position is better for the team today than Wilson (even though I wish that wasn't the case).

 

I would offload him and Benton.

 

I not all that interested in extending Benton atm (unless cheaper than he probably wants). I'd let him play out his contract (again, unless we can sign him for cheap). He is coming off his best year.

But if we trade him, we're back to having pretty horrible DL depth. And we can't keep trusting that Cam will remain healthy.

 

Second-year linebacker Payton Wilson has taken over green dot duties during preseason games when Queen is rested, showing "comfortable" command of the defense, according to reports

OR

DeShon Elliott


https://steelersdepot.com/2025/08/h...ore-simple-now-for-steelers-lb-patrick-queen/

 

Benton for now is a cheap player on the cap. He stays.

 

Just a guess, Wagner has. He is a veteran and a leader. He is also 35 and is a band aid solution. I say it is time to rip the band aid off the Queen problem. It's a healty move for the financial future of our cap.


Again try to trade him first, if not cut him sand save 10.8M on the cap. Use half of that amount to sign a veteran free agent ILB. That's what I would do.

 

Be interesting to watch whether the new coaches agree with the idea that Benton has been misused (I think he has). And I wouldn't mind the Steelers grabbing a DL in Rd2 or 3. If nothing else, they can use the depth.

 

What you wrote about Queen is not accurate. Queen played inside linebacker in a 3-4 for the Ravens in 2023, which was his best season.

 

My post was two sentences long and I'm not the one who took a confrontational tone. I simply pointed out something that seems to be in accurate. It didn't really warrant that response, but I do wish you a blessed day.

 

And there was a big difference when he didn't have to wear the dot.

And he was recently on a podcast talking about how difficult it was for him because the defense / his role with the Steelers was so complicated (article about it).

IMO, we need to see what Queen looks like when he doesn't have to be the QB out there.

 

Agreed. It isn't that he can't be effective at inside linebacker. I just don't think he can do that and wear the green dot.

 

I agree, and although I maybe wrong, I believe it's a green dot issue. Too much for him, and he just needs to play.

 

I remember reading about it being an issue for him in Baltimore, too.

 

Bingo.


That square peg, round hole issue heavily stems from a coach who was known to attempt such late in his career. Tomlin couldnt get out of his own way and that ended up costing him multiple times on multiple players. Hopefully Mike McCarthy can succeed where Tomlin could not.

 

The bottom line is that Queen's contract is up after this season. And they paid him his roster bonus. He will play out his contract, Unfortunately.

Benton is the whipping boy and had his best season so far in 2025. No one wants to give some shade to Heyward. He is on that D Line as well. Everyone loves him chasing the running back 30 yards down the field after the point of attack has been shredded. Funny how when Harmen came back in after his injury the point of attack got better.