The Pittsburgh Steelers may have one of their strongest rosters of the 2020s on paper, but ESPN’s Mike Clay sees one spot that still stands out as the softest part of the lineup: inside linebacker.
That’s the area Clay pointed to when identifying the Steelers’ biggest weakness, and Patrick Queen is the player he believes has to deliver in 2026. Clay noted that Queen stayed on the field as an every-down linebacker last season, but his play didn’t match the workload.
“Queen remained an every-down player last season but slipped to 61st among 67 qualified off-ball linebackers in PFF grade (he ranked 54th among 69 qualified in 2024),” Clay writes. “Wilson could make a Year 3 leap, though he struggled to fend off Cole Holcomb and Malik Harrison, who both remain on the roster, for snaps last season.”
Queen is heading into the final season of the three-year deal he signed in 2024, a contract worth $41 million that stands as the largest external free agent agreement in Steelers history. He earned a Pro Bowl nod in that 2024 campaign, but inconsistency has been the main concern around his game over the past two seasons.
The Steelers have added plenty around him, including Michael Pittman, Rico Dowdle, Jamel Dean, Jaquan Brisker, and a draft class with several players who could contribute right away. That kind of influx gives Pittsburgh a chance to build on last season’s AFC North title. Still, Clay’s read is clear: if there’s a crack in this roster, it’s at inside linebacker.
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