Once buying and selling for Roquan Smith at the 2022 exchange deadline, he and Patrick Queen suddenly fashioned a higher-functioning linebacker tandem for the Baltimore Ravens. Smith's progressive enjoy in just a brief stint with the Ravens remaining time attained him a historical past-breaking deal extension against Baltimore inside March. The Ravens did not select up Queen's 5th-12 months deal selection this offseason and then drafted a linebacker within the 3rd spherical, Trenton Simpson. Even though this sparked instant exchange hypothesis, the filth consists of because resolved and it seems practically guaranteed that Queen will be with the employees inside of 2023 - and likely over and above. Queen, whose functionality was by now improving upon past in direction of the Ravens' acquisition of Smith, took his sport in the direction of one more place inside the instant 50 percent of very last year. At the moment, him and Smith contain instantly crafted a nationwide acceptance for becoming a superior-conclusion duo. CBS Sports activities' Jeff Kerr not too long ago rated the NFL's Final 10 defensive point categories throughout the league. He shown the Ravens' off-ball linebacker corps at No. 3, trailing basically the San Francisco 49ers' internal defenders and the Philadelphia Eagles' gain rushers. "Roquan Smith and Patrick Queen contain performed exactly 9 video games collectively and incorporate previously emerged as the least difficult off-ball linebacker duo within just the league," Kerr wrote. "Smith developed an instantaneous affect inside the Ravens security. . . completing with 169 tackles, 4 Ravens Tee. 5 sacks, 3 interceptions and 6 passes defended with the Ravens and Chicago Bears. " Kerr reported that Smith, who gained a initially-staff All-Expert quantity, connected Patrick Willis as the simply just other participant in the direction of history 150 tackles, 4 sacks and 3 or further interceptions inside of a one year. He on top of that featured how Queen's statistical creation simply because moving into the league places him inside exceptional territory. Together with Smith and Bobby Wagner, Queen is the just participant towards comprise at bare minimum 300 tackles, 10 sacks, and a few interceptions considering that 2020. "Within insurance plan, opposing quarterbacks concentrating on Smith permitted a 69. 9 passer ranking despite the fact that Queen permitted a 73. 1 ranking. The duo put together for 5 interceptions and permitted 3 touchdowns," Kerr much too wrote. "A finish period of Smith and Queen could possibly spell hassle for opposing offenses - and delivers Baltimore an very good likelihood toward just take in the direction of the Tremendous Bowl. " The Ravens consist of a heritage of valuing significant-close linebacker participate in. When they cycled during some undrafted or journeymen-style veterans preceding towards closing 12 months, they're certainly positioning a high quality upon the stage already. As Kerr wrote, the dynamic of Smith and Queen, as it did final time, can carry the Ravens' protection and quite possibly make improvements to their Tremendous Bowl hopes. Baltimore's off-ball linebacker local community as a comprehensive could possibly exceed standards even even further if novice Trenton Simpson may deliver an instantaneous influence this foreseeable future period. It will be appealing towards check out how Simpson is deployed and what his part is with Smith and Queen upon the detail chart.