Ryan Shazier\u2019s injury was nearly a decade ago, and the Pittsburgh Steelers have churned through dozens of inside linebackers since then, trying to get it right. Patrick Queen was meant to end that cycle when he became the highest-paid external free agent in franchise history. Two years later, with uneven results, Pittsburgh is once again at a crossroads.<\/p>\n
Despite some fan support for cutting him loose, The Pat McAfee Show\u2019s Steelers beat writer Mark Kaboly sees things differently.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know who replaces Patrick Queen unless you find somebody else out there right now to be able to bring in free agency that you\u2019ll like better than him,\u201d Kaboly said on 93.7 The Fan\u2019s Evening Show<\/a>. \u201cI could see Patrick Queen getting extended more than I could see him getting cut right now.\u201d<\/p>\n Queen\u2019s contract was hefty for an external free agent in Pittsburgh, but it was structured in a team-friendly manner<\/a>. He has a $2.5 million roster bonus due in March and a $10.83 million salary. None of that money is guaranteed, so the Steelers would have very minimal dead money and a lot of cap savings if they cut ties with him prior to the roster bonus coming due.<\/p>\n Mike Tomlin\u2019s departure hurts Queen\u2019s value in a tangible way. He spent the last two years learning how to be the quarterback of Tomlin\u2019s defense. Now it\u2019s Patrick Graham in charge. The language and scheme could look a lot different. To his benefit, Scott McCurley remains the ILBs coach and has an extensive history with McCarthy.<\/p>\n