Since leaving the Baltimore Ravens for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the offseason, he has been fully exposed to the rivalry with his fans and his old teammates.
Queen has repeatedly raved about how much better life is with his new team on and off the field, which has struck a chord with some Ravens fans. He has even engaged in some casual feuds with his former teammates, most notably cornerback Marlon Humphrey.
Despite all this, Queen still misses his old teammates, even though he still texts and plays with them.
“When you’re there for four years, you build bonds with people, and that’s something that doesn’t go away,” Queen told Giana Han of The Baltimore Banner. “It doesn’t go away.”
Queen, the No. 28 overall pick in 2020, has really hit his stride recently. Last season was his best yet, as the LSU product totaled 133 tackles, which set a career high and earned him his first Pro Bowl nomination. Some have noted that Queen’s rise coincided with the arrival of All-Pro linebacker Roquan Smith, but the former still deserves credit for improving as a player.
As Queen’s breakout season continued, however, the chances of him staying in Baltimore continued to dwindle. Defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike, another key defender from the 2020 draft class, also had a breakout season with 13 sacks, and the Ravens’ salary cap essentially forced them to make a decision. They chose Madubuike, allowing Queen to become a free agent after four years in Baltimore.
“I was already told it was going to be me or Madubuike and I already knew the defensive line was the priority,” Queen said.
With Queen gone, the Ravens will look to second-year pro Trenton Simpson to take over the starting position. The Clemson product has impressed all summer, which hasn’t surprised Queen at all.
“Unbelievable, I’m proud of him,” Queen said of Simpson after the final game of the regular season. “I couldn’t be happier for him, great guy. He made me nervous; we went through all the calls and stuff and he just asked a ton of questions to figure everything out. But that’s why you see how he played. He’s just at the top of his game, dynamic, maybe faster than me. I just love the guy, great player.”
Don’t forget to bookmark Baltimore Ravens on SI for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film analysis and more!
