Ravens snatch Patrick Queen late in 1st round
The Baltimore Ravens selected linebacker Patrick Queen out of LSU in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, 28th overall.
Queen should compete for a starting spot in his rookie year. The Ravens ranked third in points allowed per game last season but lagged at linebacker as they struggled to replace former Pro Bowler C.J. Mosley.
Baltimore projected to start L.J. Fort and Chris Board prior to landing Queen, who saw three inside linebackers (Isaiah Simmons, Kenneth Murray, and Jordyn Brooks) go ahead of him in the opening round.
Prospect Profile
School: LSU
Height: 6-0
Weight: 229 lbs
Positives
- Excellent athletic profile
- Impressive processing speed to read keys
- Sideline-to-sideline range with great pursuit speed
- Slips blocks with short-area quickness and good use of hands
- Sound finisher who plays with physicality
- Aggressive while taking on blocks at the point of attack
- Fluidity in man coverage vs. backs and tight ends
- Great awareness of developing routes in zone coverage
- Explosiveness is valuable as second-level blitzer
Negatives
- Lacks ideal size and weight for the position
- Length could create difficulty stacking blocks vs. NFL linemen
- Only one season as full-time starter in college
Bottom Line
One of the key contributors for LSU's championship defense, Queen makes the jump to the NFL as an incredibly well-rounded prospect. He may not possess prototypical size, but the defender makes up for it with his athleticism, physicality, and ability to quickly diagnose what's happening in front of him. Queen's athleticism shows up in all phases defensively, and he's a strong fit for today's NFL due to his effectiveness in coverage. He's an every-down linebacker who should be a strong leader up the middle for years.