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The Dallas Cowboys are apparently out on a trade for Patrick Queen #6 of the Pittsburgh Steelers
The Dallas Cowboys‘ search for a starting linebacker probably should not have been as difficult as it has turned out to be. The team entered free agency with a blatant need at the position and with the resources to address it, backed by team owner Jerry Jones’ promise to “bust the budget.” There were plenty of very good linebackers on the market, too, including Devin Lloyd, Devin Bush, Nakobe Dean and Quay Walker.
The Cowboys reportedly put in credible offers on both of the final two players on that list, though both landed in Las Vegas with the two-win Raiders, so how credible the offers were can be debated. Either way, the Cowboys did appear to have a Plan C on the board: a potential trade of a draft pick for Steelers two-time Pro Bowl linebacker Patrick Queen, who has not been a great fit in Pittsburgh and has been rumored to be on the trade block.
The Cowboys expressed interest in a deal for Queen. Until they did not.
Cowboys ‘Officially Pulled Out’ on Patrick Queen Talks
That’s according to Fort Worth Star-Telegram reporter Nick Harris, who confirmed rumors of the Cowboys poking around a Queen trade possibility before reporting this week that Dallas has nixed those talks, at least for now.
Wrote Harris: “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.”
Patrick Queen–or Almost Anyone–Would Be an Upgrade
Without a veteran linebacker to play next to weak-side linebacker DeMarvion Overshown, the Cowboys are looking at starting a rookie in the spot, which could be a dangerous game for this defense. Of all the areas that struggled last season, with the Cowboys putting arguably the worst defense in the NFL on the field, linebacker might have been the worst.
In that regard, all the Cowboys need to do is upgrade over Kenneth Murray and Logan Wilson. That won’t be hard to do.
But they will want a veteran in that mix in addition to whomever they might get in the draft–Sonny Styles, CJ Allen, Jacob Rodriguez. It’s also dangerous to rely on the draft to fill a need as gaping as the Cowboys’ linebacker need. There’s no telling if the player you want will be on the board.
Cowboys Still Have Names to Explore
Harris mentioned that the Cowboys and new defensive coordinator Christian Parker deserve some credit for being picks about which players can fill the MLB role in the team’s new defense. But he warns that the team is in danger of being too choosy.
He wrote: “With names such as Bobby Okereke, Bobby Wagner and Lavonte David still on the board, the Cowboys seem to be shifting their focus to address the giant need. … A certain type of credit can be given to defensive coordinator Christian Parker and linebackers coach Scott Symons for not settling for a player they don’t think can play the role just because he’s the best name left, but the choosiness has left them in a position where a lot of creativity is required to find an impact player.”
Sean Deveney is a veteran sports reporter covering the NBA, NFL and MLB for Heavy.com. He has written for Heavy since 2019 and has more than two decades of experience covering the NBA, including 17 years as the lead NBA reporter for the Sporting News. Deveney is the author of 7 nonfiction books, including “Fun City,” “Before Wrigley became Wrigley,” and “Facing Michael Jordan.” More about Sean Deveney
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