The Dallas Cowboys did a lot of nice things in the first wave of free agency, but it's hard not to be concerned about the remaining holes at linebacker and edge rusher.
Unfortunately, the linebacker problem isn't due to a lack of effort, as Dallas reportedly pursued Nakobe Dean, who signed with the Las Vegas Raiders despite the Cowboys putting a superior offer on the table. Dean instead chose to reunite with former Georgia teammate Quay Walker, who also landed in Las Vegas and stayed in contact with him during free agency.
Amid multiple failed efforts, Jane Slater of NFL Network revealed the Cowboys were sniffing around a trade for Pittsburgh Steelers veteran Patrick Queen.
Thankfully, interest appears to have waned, with Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reporting that Dallas has "pulled out of its preliminary interest."
"The trade market has also been explored by the Cowboys, as they spent days looking over Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen. After a down year in 2025, Pittsburgh and Queen are expected to part ways this offseason, and a trade seems imminent for the former first-round pick.
Dallas had some intrigue in the building, but the team officially pulled out of its preliminary interest Thursday afternoon."
The Dallas Cowboys seemingly won't be trading for Patrick Queen, and that's a good thing
Thank goodness.
It's easy to be fooled into thinking a linebacker is a great player just by looking at their stats. Queen is a prime example.
The former first-round pick has made two Pro Bowls, totaled 703 tackles and 51 tackles for loss in six seasons, and hasn't missed a start since being drafted in 2020. He also won't turn 27 until August.
So, why would the Steelers be entertaining offers on a player with that resume who also happens to be in the middle of his prime? Wouldn't most teams invest in that player rather than the other way around? Because what the box score doesn't show is a flawed linebacker.
According to Pro Football Focus, Queen ranked 83rd out of 88 linebackers in coverage grade (31.3) and 64th in run-defense grade (58.4). His 21.2 percent missed tackle rate was a career high, while his 32 defensive tops were a career low despite playing the second-most snaps of his career.
It's not like Queen played behind an inept defensive front. The Steelers' roster has a lot of warts, but their defensive line is a strength, featuring T.J. Watt, Cam Heyward, Alex Highsmith, Derrick Harmon, Nick Herbig, and Keeanu Benton.
2023 was Queen's best season, and it was heavily influenced by playing next to five-time All-Pro Roquan Smith. In Dallas, Queen would be playing next to DeMarvion Overshown and a potential rookie draft pick.
While Cowboys fans are bullish on Overshown if he can stay healthy, he can't hold a candle to Roquan Smith.
In other words, Queen would be the guy in Dallas, and that would have disaster written all over it. Thankfully, the Cowboys haven't let desperation cloud their judgment.