patrick queen is at the center of emerging trade chatter as the Pittsburgh Steelers face questions about their inside linebacker depth and contract structure heading into a pivotal stretch.
What Happens When Patrick Queen becomes a real trade option?
Multiple reports describe the Dallas Cowboys as an NFC team checking in on a potential deal involving Patrick Queen. NFL Network’s Jane Slater characterized the Cowboys as “looking at it, ” while also emphasizing it is not a strong pursuit right now and framed it as part of broader diligence on veteran linebackers.
The fact pattern driving the conversation is straightforward: Patrick Queen is set to enter the final year of his three-year contract with Pittsburgh, and he has been the Steelers’ green dot the past two seasons. At the same time, the Steelers added clarity to their linebacker room by re-signing Cole Holcomb to a two-year contract extension before the legal tampering period began, re-stacking veteran options at the position.
That combination—an expiring contract year for a prominent on-field communicator and a room that now includes multiple veteran deals—has opened the door to the idea that Pittsburgh could consider moving Patrick Queen if a suitable offer materializes, even as any negotiations remain exploratory.
What If the Cowboys’ interest turns from “looking at it” into active talks?
As described, the Cowboys’ interest is real but measured. Jane Slater indicated Dallas is aware of the linebacker market and wants to add a veteran, while being diligent. A separate report also stated the Cowboys have contacted the Steelers and that the sides are at least talking. None of that confirms momentum toward a deal, but it does establish communication and a credible pathway if circumstances change.
From Pittsburgh’s perspective, Patrick Queen’s on-field résumé is not in question within the context provided: he is 26 years old, a two-time Pro Bowler, and he started all 17 games for Pittsburgh in 2025. He also started all 101 of his 101 career games. His 2025 stat line was listed as 120 tackles, eight tackles for loss, one sack, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and four pass deflections.
Still, the reporting also captures the counterweight: a “growing belief” that the Steelers could part ways with Patrick Queen, tied to the view that he has not necessarily lived up to the three-year, $41 million deal signed in March 2024, and to the stated $17, 193, 334 cap hit. Those numbers, paired with the Cowboys’ check-in, create the conditions for continued speculation even if a trade is not imminent.
What If the Steelers decide keeping Patrick Queen is the clearest path forward?
Any expectation of an automatic move is complicated by the Steelers’ own public posture. General manager Omar Khan sounded positive about retaining Patrick Queen during his interview at the 2026 NFL Combine, saying: “Yeah, PQ has been good for us. You know, I think he likes being here. We like having him be a part of the team. And you know, part of the process is going to be for him to get to know us, us to get to know him, but I’m excited about having him around. ”
That comment matters because it indicates organizational comfort with Patrick Queen’s role, even as the roster math prompts questions. The same reporting noted that Pittsburgh has five inside linebackers on “decent contracts, ” and that after Holcomb was re-signed, it had been expected Malik Harrison might be released—yet another possibility raised is that Patrick Queen could be traded instead. Within the boundaries of what’s known here, the direction remains open-ended: Pittsburgh can point to leadership continuity and durability on one hand, while other voices argue the cap hit and performance value should push the team toward an exit on the other.
Former players and media figures have added to that pressure. Bart Scott, identified as a former Baltimore Ravens linebacker, criticized Patrick Queen’s play and called it a “no-brainer” to part ways given the cap hit. Former Steelers James Harrison and Joe Haden also voiced support for moving on, with Haden calling the contract “a lot of money” and Harrison suggesting “you can see the writing on the wall. ” Those opinions do not determine roster decisions, but they add volume to the public debate around the position and the contract timing.
For now, the clearest on-the-record indicators are these: Dallas has checked in, the pursuit is not described as strong at this moment, and the Steelers’ top decision-maker has spoken positively about Patrick Queen’s place with the team—leaving the next step dependent on how serious trade discussions become and how Pittsburgh ultimately chooses to shape the inside linebacker room.
