Patrick Queen And The Bucs
February 1st, 2026
ILB Patrick Queen.
Would Joe like to see Lavonte David back in 2026? Sure, but that doesn’t mean the Bucs should not draft his replacement and it sure doesn’t mean they shouldn’t sign a linebacker in free agency.
One thing that has frustrated Joe the past couple of years is how soft the Bucs defense has become. Name the last two times you saw a Bucs defender drill a guy so hard it forced a turnover? You know the type: a game-changing hit.
Well, one way to bring back hitting to Tampa Bay is to bring in a physical player. One such player is Steelers LB Patrick Queen. Perhaps he could be had in a trade since he’s on the final year of his contract?
Queen seemed generally depressed when Tomlin resigned. Mike McCarthy has replaced Tomlin in Pittsburgh.
The inside linebacker was drafted by the John Harbaugh Crows in 2020 in the first round. After his contract expired with Baltimore, he left for Mike Tomlin’s Steelers. Both coaches strongly believe in physical play. In fact, those two guys wouldn’t start an inside linebacker unless he was physical.
It appears Queen is a smart guy. He likes to be paid. And he may want to play for a defensive-minded head coach.
Queen ranked 27th in the NFL in tackles (120). So Queen is still young, is still physical and is still a ballhawk, just the kind of guy the Bucs need to either replace David or play alongside David.
February 1st, 2026 at 11:05 am
Was he released?
February 1st, 2026 at 11:05 am
Would be a great trade option
February 1st, 2026 at 11:06 am
Drafted in 2000??? 😉
February 1st, 2026 at 11:14 am
Would really like Jack Sawyer off Steeler’s roster. Maybe they would be dumb enough to trade Sawyer for Braswell? Sawyer is a tough guy who loves to play.
February 1st, 2026 at 11:17 am
I dont see the Bucs being major players in FA this year. I dont think they want to be on the hook for more bloated contracts. Bucs will have to overpay to get top talent since this isnt a playoff team and overpaying hasn’t worked well for Licht.
February 1st, 2026 at 11:17 am
Drafted in 2020. This, like every other move must be scrutinized thoroughly as this is JL & TB prove it year. Either they come through or they don’t.
February 1st, 2026 at 11:17 am
I like Quay Walker
February 1st, 2026 at 11:18 am
Been a baller since LSU.
February 1st, 2026 at 11:29 am
My first thought – yikes, he’s on his 26th year in the league! Then I had more coffee.
Would love this move. Anything – just please get FA help. Need proven guys.
February 1st, 2026 at 11:30 am
Love David, but it’s time to replace him. Father time has caught up with him like it does with everyone. Same for Mike Evans.
February 1st, 2026 at 11:33 am
Any guy with 2 arms and 2 legs would be an upgrade over Dennis
We can draft another ILB , keep Nick Jackson as a backup
Maybe keep Dennis as a backup also
February 1st, 2026 at 11:37 am
LB was by far our weakest position last year. It seemed every pass to a RB went for 10 yards or more. We HAVE to get better in coverage. I would love seeing Queen in pewter n red, a absolute upgrade
February 1st, 2026 at 11:46 am
I’m missing something Joe. I’d sign Patrick Queen in a heartbeat, but Spotrac doesn’t show him as a FA until after 2026. He signed a 3-year, $41 mil contract with the Steelers in 2024 (average salary being $13.7 mil). I’m wondering now if Pittsburgh released him early.
Patrick’s been in the NFL for 6 years (4 yrs with Ravens; 2 yrs with Steelers). Never missed a game (started every one), with slightly over 6,000 def snaps in 6 yrs. Averages about 117 tackles per year (70 solo), with a 10.7% Missed Tackle Rate. Has gotten 15.5 sacks in his 6 yrs, but that’s a little misleading (13.5 sacks were with the Ravens & only 2 sacks with the Steelers), and averages about 65 blitzes per year (Bowles would love him).
If the Bucs are gonna rebuild our linebacking corps, we need a veteran like Queen to anchor it. He won’t be inexpensive, but he’s earning about the same that we paid Hassan Reddick. I’d take Patrick Queen any day of the year.
February 1st, 2026 at 11:48 am
I would love to see us pick up a quality ILB in free agency. Then draft another one in the second round (pick #46). I would love to have us pick a stud edge rusher in the first round (pick # 15). I hope these picks are the best players available also.
February 1st, 2026 at 11:51 am
Oh and BTW Joe, Patrick Queen looks to be very good at pass defense for an ILB. He had a 72.5% Pass Completions Allowed percentager these last 2 years with Pittsburgh (75.9% career average). He’s only 26 right now and so he’d have a LOT of years left. I’d love to see up pick him up, assuming that he’s a FA of course.
February 1st, 2026 at 11:55 am
Joe would throw 10 plus million at David? Joe, that money needs to go to an upgrade at ILB. David is not worth the money he’d want. Bringing him back, and expecting better than last year is wishful thinking. ??? Where exactly did Joe mention money??–Joe
February 1st, 2026 at 11:56 am
Anyone except LVD would be an upgrade…
Especially for @ $11M.
Paying @ $11M for one of the worst ranked ILB in the league is a huge waste of resources.
If you still want LVD in the locker room then offer him an assistant coaching position.
February 1st, 2026 at 12:03 pm
Looks like a solid FA.
Also draft a 1st round MLB.
2nd round: DE/DT to replace Hall.
3rd round: Ã huge NT to rotate with Vea.
4th round: double dip and get another MLB
5th round: another guard (cut Klein)
6th round: CB prospect special teams killer.
7th round: CB prospect. 4.3 speed only.
February 1st, 2026 at 12:13 pm
I’ve wondered how do teams like the Ravens and Steelers who have both been good teams for a while continually get physical players all over their defense and we can’t find any. We need to start by revamping our scouting department and redefine the type of players were targeting. I don’t think the I AM THAT MAN mantra or whatever they call it is working. Also we need to take a page out of John Lynch’s book and start using some of our draft capital for trades for proven players.
February 1st, 2026 at 12:14 pm
Nobody wants to play for Bowles except for Lavonte!
February 1st, 2026 at 12:30 pm
Free agent line backers I like:
Nakobe Dean
Devin Lloyd
Devin Bush
Quay Walker
My wishes:
After signing one of the above linebackers, then sign a free agent tight end of which Isaiah likely Kyle Pitts or David njoku as well as Tyler Algier.
I would also like to see assigning of an interior offensive lineman to be better depth piece than what we were starting as backups all year last year. Dan Feeney and Jordan were just not good enough.
Draft: edge and inside linebacker should be the priority in the first two rounds. If Sonny Styles is there at 15 I would jump, if not I would look at which ed rushers are there and potentially trade back if possible. I like Howell, but also saw some really good things from the senior bowl guys.. Jacas, Clemson guy…
There are a lot of good inside linebackers so if we go edge in the first I would not be averse to picking Anthony Hill or Jacob rodriguez in the second unless Lee Hunter is there.
I would be very happy starting with Cassius Howell and Lee Hunter and then treating up if need be to get one of the remaining top inside linebackers and if those are unavailable then the smaller linebacker who is good in coverage at pittKyle Louis. Who was outstanding at Senior bowl practices and showed that he was very good in coverage. He would be a good pairing to go with Dennis as he could come in on passing downs as it seems like Dennis is good as a run stopper.
February 1st, 2026 at 12:31 pm
If Styles and that Big G Loane are gone, trade down a little and give me DT Kayden Mcdonald….we can land LB Deontae Lawson later after TE Trigg.
February 1st, 2026 at 12:43 pm
For the money they were paying David it should be easy to get a replacement.
February 1st, 2026 at 12:45 pm
Another way to bring back hitting to Tampa Bay is to get rid of the DC.
You know, they guy getting paid to be a defensive guru?
If you cannot draft, teach, scheme, develop, or coach up defensive players then why are you employed.
All of this makes zero sense to anyone with an IQ above 80.
February 1st, 2026 at 12:53 pm
I don’t trust jason and Todd to make a logical decision to better the team.
February 1st, 2026 at 12:55 pm
He comes from the 2 best organizations in football, the 2 best coaches! Cmon man ! Bowles ! Wishful thinking..
February 1st, 2026 at 1:02 pm
This would be a great pick up.