The Steelers aren't often among the most active teams in NFL free agency, but they bucked that trend in 2024.Pittsburgh signed Patrick Queen to a three-year contract to serve as the top stand-up linebacker in Mike Tomlin's defense.Queen, 24, was a first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft after standing out on LSU's national championship-winning defense. He spent the Hernan Perez Jersey first four years of his career with the Ravens and averaged 115 tackles, three sacks, four pa s defenses, and one interception per 17 games played in Baltimore.The Steelers lacked a three-down linebacker next to Cole Holcomb, so Queen is expected to provide Pittsburgh's defense with a big boost. That's part of the reason they were willing to make him one of the highest-paid inside linebackers Robin Yount Jersey in the NFL.NFL FREE AGENCY 2024: || Patrick Queen contract detailsQueen signed a three-year deal worth $41 million to join the Steelers. That $41 million figure is the most ever dished out by the Steelers to a single external free agent.Queen is guaranteed $13.84 million in 2024 thanks to an $11.59 million signing bonus and a fully guaranteed salary of $2.25 million.Below is a full look at the structure of his contract, per . Years Salary Bonuses Cap hit Dead cap 2024 $2,250,000 $3,863,333 $6,113,333 $13,840,000 2025 $7,160,000 $10,533,333 $17,693,333 $7,726,667 2026 $10,830,000 $6,363,334 $17,193,334 $3,863,334While Queen is under contract for three years, the Steelers can move on from him with ease in 2025 if he fails to live up to expectations. He will carry a dead cap hit of just over $7.7 million that season, so Pittsburgh can free nearly $10 million in cap space by releasing him.Naturally, the Steelers hope that Queen will play well enough to play out the full duration of his contract at a high level, but the team Ryan Braun Jersey has to be happy that they will have options if he proves to be a poor fit for Tomlin's defense.BEST FREE AGENTS AVAILABLE: | | | | Steelers highest-paid free agent signingsAs mentioned, the Steelers aren't known for shelling out big bucks to external free agents. Their organizational philosophy is to draft and develop talent and then extend their top players when it comes time.In recent years, the Steelers have shown a willingne s to pay modest sums to plug holes in free agency. Including Queen, they have now signed six players to deals worth $20 million-plus in free agency.Below is a look at those contracts: Year Player Position Contract length Total value 2024 Patrick Queen LB Three years $41 Christian Yelich Jersey million 2017 Joe Haden CB Three years $27 million 2019 Steven Nelson CB Three years $25.5 million 2014 Mike Mitchell S Five years $25 million 2001 Jeff Hartings C Six years $24.25 million 2016 Ladarius Green TE Four years $20 millionIt shouldn't surprise anyone to see that the Steelers have largely spent money on the defensive side of the ball. It also should not surprise anyone that they Jesus Aguilar Jersey have typically targeted secondary help, as they struggled to cultivate talent at cornerback and safety during the 2010s.Even so, the Steelers' results in free agency have been hit or mi s. That's why they agree only to modest, reasonable pacts that tend not to set the team back too much if they don't work out.That's what makes Queen's contract a good fit for the Steelers. If the marriage doesn't work, they can get out of it quickly.
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