The Dallas Cowboys entered the free agency vying to improve their linebackers group. However, their previous three swings on Quay Walker, Nakobe Dean, and Devin Lloyd turned into misses. While the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Patrick Queen then came into the conversation, the thought whizzed out just as quickly.

The obvious reason is his $13.3 million cap hit in 2026 from the $41 million, 3-year contract he signed in 2024. Although the latest news might not exactly be hinting at it, signing Queen could be one of the better moves of the offseason for Jerry Jones. Here’s how!

“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,” Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s Nick Harris writes. “Dallas had some intrigue in the building, but the team officially pulled out of its preliminary interest Thursday afternoon.”

Queen was a legitimate fit for the Cowboys despite not completely justifying the big check he got from the Steelers. But there are a couple of factors that could justify having him in Dallas:

• Future planning: Whether Jones brings Queen in or not, he has two ways to move forward. Both of those include draft selections. The 2026 NFL Draft class has some good names at the LB position. For one, Sonny Styles has long been linked with the team. However, even though he impressed the scouts at the Combine, it is unlikely he will be on the field early in the rookie season. With Queen, he could learn under his guidance.
  Given that Queen is in the last year of his contract, the team can either move on from his the next season or give him an extension if he can perform like his former self again. In any way, it will guarantee that Dallas’ LB room will look solid moving ahead.
• A veteran leader: Queen has worn many hats with the Steelers. Whether being the green dot, a focal point in the team’s ability to reestablish a run defense, or being a run chase specialist with the ability to flow sideline to sideline. Looking at 2025, Queen may have some occasional lapses in coverage and might not be the best option against blockers. However, it is hard to ignore that he is a field general with great communication skills.
  Dallas’ linebackers room disappointed in 2025, to say the least. While Queen was the 83rd-worst LB among 88 in the league, he could still provide some respite to new defensive coordinator Christian Parker. Queen, despite all his flaws, remains a starter in this league.

However, the team has walked away from whatever interest they had in the linebacker. NFL Network’s Jane Slater flagged the warning signs early. Meanwhile, Bobby Wagner and Lavonte David remain as two veteran free agency options. But until the pen touches the paper and the ink is dry, the Cowboys’ linebacker room looks dangerously thin heading into April.

This is not the first time the Dallas Cowboys have shown interest in a linebacker before ultimately stepping back. Last year, Dallas reportedly explored a potential trade for Quincy Williams from the New York Jets during the trade deadline window. However, reports suggested the asking price proved too steep.

But it could still be a better thing for the Steelers if they keep Queen in Pittsburgh.

Why keeping Queen in Pittsburgh makes sense for the Steelers

They would’ve received a mid-round pick in exchange for a veteran Pro Bowler who understands how their playbooks operate. While most projected that the Cowboys would trade a 2027 fourth-round pick in exchange, Jerry Jones had already surrendered it to the Green Bay Packers for defensive lineman Rashan Gary. For a two-time Pro Bowler, could the Steelers go down further?

Sure, some of the loopholes make it difficult to see him fit in the Steelers’ defense, but if GM Omar Khan does show him the door, how quickly can he find a substitute for him? Not to mention, Queen would still carry over $6 million in dead cap.

Keeping him on the roster would, in conclusion, be beneficial for the Steelers. Even if they do want to move on from him, it is unlikely to happen in 2026.

What’s interesting is that Queen has removed the Steelers’ name from his social media profiles, hinting that the two sides have already had the talk.

In his first season, he posted 129 tackles and 7 pass deflections in Pittsburgh, which was followed by a slight dip last season with 120 tackles and four pass deflections. So, at the same time, moving him would have freed up about $13.33 million in Pittsburgh’s salary cap.

The linebacker void in Dallas doesn’t exist in isolation. It’s the loudest symptom of a broader free agency run that has drawn sharp criticism of Jerry Jones.

Jerry Jones’ free agency promise remains unfulfilled

Jones made a big promise to “bust the budget” in free agency to fix their defense. For him, borrowing from the future was never an alien concept. And to a certain extent, he did follow through. By Friday, March 13, Dallas added eight new names to their ranks and sent away two of their defensive tackles. With six defensive players and two on offense, Jerry really did focus on the secondary.

It started with Rashan Gary. When Dallas got Green Bay’s edge rusher, Jerry Jones positioned it as a pass-rush upgrade. But NFL.com’s Jeffri Chadiha wasn’t impressed. He ranked Jones at the top of his “Biggest Losers” list after Day 1.

“Gary is certainly an upgrade on what Dallas already had on the edge,” Chadiha wrote. “It’s also worth wondering how impactful he will be as a Cowboy. Gary was once considered an ascending talent. A torn ACL in the 2022 season changed all that, he hasn’t been nearly as proficient at pressuring quarterbacks since he was before that injury.”

Chadiha also noted that finances, instead of talent, may have been the driving force behind Jones’ decision. He will count $19.5 million against this year’s cap, the reason why the Packers wanted to release him. Jones, on the other hand, found a cheaper option to improve the team’s pass rush. But would it translate?

Rashan Gary does carry credibility and experience. He logged 7.5 sacks in each of the past three seasons (nine sacks in 2023) and got a Pro Bowl nod in 2024.

Gary arrived and immediately took a $6 million pay cut, agreeing to a two-year, $32 million deal with $16 million guaranteed. A $13.2 million signing bonus spread over four void years dropped his 2026 cap hit from $19.5 million all the way down to $5.4, giving Dallas immediate breathing room.

The Cowboys also brought OLB Sam Williams back on a modest one-year, $3 million deal. Then came Sam Howell, a former Philadelphia Eagles backup, signed for QB depth. But the Howell move landed poorly with the Cowboys Nation watching defensive starters walk out the door.

Jerry Jones still holds two first-round picks and the capital to move aggressively in trades or the draft. Sonny Styles at Ohio State has been linked to the Cowboys through many mock drafts. But the margin for error is gone. Jones needs to make the big moves he’s already promised.