With Zaire Franklin no longer in the building, the 2026 Indianapolis Colts are quite thin at linebacker right now. There are some big names still up for grabs in free agency, but given the way general manager Chris Ballard has operated so far, it's hard to envision him making a big splash.
That's why the Colts might have to turn to the trade market to find a suitable replacement for their veteran linebacker. At least, it seems like they could have an ideal trade candidate waiting for them in the AFC North.
According to Dallas Cowboys insider Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, the Pittsburgh Steelers are likely to trade Patrick Queen. And while the Cowboys should definitely be interested in his services, so should the Colts.
The Indianapolis Colts could use someone like 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," Harris reported.
Granted, Queen hasn't been as good in Pittsburgh as he was with the Baltimore Ravens. That said, it might simply be a matter of the system, and even a down year by his standards would be a career year for most linebackers.
The 26-year-old started all 17 regular-season games for Mike Tomlin's team. He had 120 total tackles (56 solo), eight tackles for loss, five QB hits, four passes defensed, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and one sack.
However, the tape and the advanced stats aren't as impressive as the raw numbers. Pro Football Focus (subscription required) gave him a 44.0 grade, ranking 78th among 88 eligible linebackers. His run-defense grade wasn't much better (58.4, 64th), and coverage grade was even more dreadful (31.3, 83rd).
He missed a whopping 31 tackles for a missed tackle rate of 20.4 percent. He gave up a 79.6 percent successful catch rate (74 receptions on 93 targets), and opposing quarterbacks had a 114.6 passer rating going against him.
That said, he's still a former first-round pick, a two-time Pro Bowler, and a former second-team All-Pro selection who might still have his prime years ahead of him. He should be available at a discount because of his recent struggles, and there might still be plenty of juice left to squeeze.
The Colts have a true defensive mastermind calling the shots on their defense. Lou Anarumo knows how to hide a player's weaknesses, and while Queen's recent tape isn't flattering at all and comes with a $10.8 million salary, there aren't many realistic options right now. He's on an expiring deal, so even if it doesn't work out, this might be just a short-term gamble for Shane Steichen's team.