Since signing with Pittsburgh in March 2024, things haven’t exactly gone according to plan for Patrick Queen. He’s had some real good moments at times and shown his potential, but he has been too inconsistent against both the run and the pass.

Queen’s found his name in trade rumors this offseason. While beat writer Mark Kaboly doesn’t think a trade is likely, he expects Queen to want to move on from the Steelers after the 2026 season.

“If you’re looking at Patrick Queen, is, I think maybe this is his last year. I don’t think he’s interested in coming back after this year. Or signing an extension, right? I don’t believe that’s the case,” Kaboly said Monday on 93.7 The Fan.

Queen trade rumors specifically involved the Dallas Cowboys. It was reported that Dallas was “looking at” Queen in early March, but nothing materialized then, and Queen is still on the roster a little over a week away from the NFL Draft.

That doesn’t mean trading Patrick Queen during the draft is completely out of the realm of possibility. Our Dave Bryan wrote about it recently, explaining that the Cowboys’ need at inside linebacker and their potential inability to trade up in the draft could make the Steelers a reasonable trade partner.

It would also make some sense to keep Queen on the roster. The Steelers could supplement the position through the draft, but it’s not the strongest on paper right now. Payton Wilson has yet to establish real consistency through his first two seasons. And there just isn’t a ton of depth at the position overall. Queen may also play better with Patrick Graham leading the defense, a change he might be excited about.

That said, Queen hasn’t really played well enough for the Steelers to strongly consider him for an extension. Against the run, he’s been inconsistent filling gaps, and led the team in missed tackles by a significant margin last year. When targeted, he’s allowed a passer rating of at least 100 in both 2024 and 2025. Queen also allowed a 72.5-percent completion rate and six touchdowns in coverage during the same span.

If the value is there for Patrick Queen’s replacement in the draft, the Steelers might feel compelled to make a move. But even if they don’t, Kaboly isn’t expecting Queen back in Pittsburgh after the 2026 season.