The Baltimore Ravens have a great legacy when it comes to selecting linebackers in the first round of a draft. And Baltimore continued that legacy with the selection of LSU linebacker Patrick Queen, who will have quite the shoes to fill.
Queen joins a prestigious group of first-round linebackers that have won tons of awards. And Doug Farrar of Touchdown Wire believes Queen could be the next in line, being one of the best bets to win the 2020 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award.
“As formidable as Baltimore’s defense was in 2019, they weren’t really able to replace the speed and range of linebacker CJ Mosley, who left for the Jets in free agency after the 2018 season. Queen is the perfect replacement, as the LSU product is athletic enough to play in the slot or at free safety, but also has the nascent run-stopping ability to become a true three-down guy.”
Queen becomes the fifth linebacker selected in the first round by Baltimore in their 25-year history, joining Ray Lewis, Peter Boulware, Terrell Suggs and C.J. Mosley. It’s a group that has helped propel the Ravens’ front office to legendary status for their ability to scout, draft and develop linebackers. The four linebackers to come before Queen have earned a combined three Defensive Player of the Year awards, two Defensive Rookie of the Year awards, 28 Pro Bowl nominations, eight All-Pro nods, and a Super Bowl MVP. While Lewis is already in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Suggs is eyeing up a gold jacket for himself soon enough.
There’s good reason to believe Queen can be the next great Ravens linebacker. Queen tested as one of the most athletically gifted linebackers in the 2020 NFL Draft class with his performance at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine. Baltimore entered the draft with a pretty major need for at least one starting inside linebacker, meaning Queen is expected to get plenty of playing time as a rookie, if not be given the starting job immediately. The playing time combined with Queen’s speed already has oddsmakers making him one of their favorites to win the Defensive Rookie of the Year award.
Though some knocked Queen for his lack of playing time, becoming a starter partway through the 2019 season at LSU, Baltimore isn’t afraid of that inexperience. In a film session with media, Ravens director of college scouting Joe Hortiz pointed to a number of clips to show Queen not only has the physical tools to be a serious weapon for Baltimore but is continuing to get even better with more playing time.
Most are expecting Queen to make a major impact for the Ravens immediately and he’ll have a lot of pressure on him thanks to Baltimore’s legacy. But he seems primed to become the next great Ravens linebacker.
