Patrick Queen-to-Miami Dolphins buzz pops up in NFL rumor mill

A report has connected the Miami Dolphins to linebacker Patrick Queen, who is a free agent and has played all four of his NFL seasons with the Baltimore Ravens organization.

“Speculation is growing that Miami could pursue Baltimore linebacker Patrick Queen,” Barry Jackson and Daniel Oyefusi wrote. “The Dolphins like him; the question is whether they can afford him with their current salary cap predicament. He and new defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver worked together in Baltimore, and he would be the ideal replacement for Jerome Baker.”

The 24-year-old spent his time in the collegiate ranks playing for Louisiana State University. He spent three seasons as a member of the Tigers and finished with 37 solo tackles, 48 assisted tackles, 85 combined tackles and one interception in 15 appearances during the 2019 season, his third and final season with the team.

Queen earned the first Pro Bowl appearances of his NFL career during the 2023 regular season, when he totaled 133 combined tackles, 49 assisted tackles, 84 solo tackles, nine tackles for loss and six quarterback hits across 17 games played (all starts) with the Ravens, who drafted him with the No. 28 overall pick back in the 2020 NFL Draft.

He also accumulated one interception and one forced fumble.

Queen played a part in why the Ravens were arguably the best defensive team in the NFL last season. They allowed just 16.5 points per game during the regular season, which was the fewest per game in the league. For perspective, the Chiefs allowed the second-fewest points per contest at 17.3.

The Ravens showed out in the team’s playoff win over the Houston Texans, as Baltimore allowed Houston to score just 10 points, with all of those points coming in the first half.

Queen and the Ravens then followed up that impressive collective defensive performance by holding the Kansas City Chiefs to 17 points in the AFC Championship Game, but Baltimore still lost by seven after scoring just three points in the second half.

The 24-year-old linebacker finished with eight combined tackles, seven solo tackles and one assisted tackle against the Chiefs.

The Dolphins might want to do all they can to create the cap space necessary to sign Queen. His addition would make Miami a better defensive team on paper than it was during the 2023 regular season.