Earlier this month, Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine revealed an article proposing a number of blockbuster NFL trades, none of which did – or are going to – occur. It was the same old offseason pablum, designed to do nothing greater than get a couple of eyeballs because the canine days of summer season rolled alongside and we ticked off the times on the calendar till coaching camp. Nonetheless, at the very least one of many proposed trades had the meant impact of getting some fan bases riled up. The concept of sending Patrick Queen and a fourth-round choose to the Washington Commanders in change for Chase Younger generated loads of debate amongst #RavensFlock.
As if that weren’t sufficient, earlier this afternoon, the rumor – if you wish to name it that – began effervescent up on Twitter but once more.
𝗥𝗨𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗦: The #Steelers and #Ravens are rumored to have commerce curiosity in #Commanders move rusher Chase Younger amongst others, per @USATODAY
Washington declined his fifth 12 months choice and he’s getting into a “show it” season. pic.twitter.com/ZZ7PXd2vCL
— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) July 25, 2023
As we speak, as a gradual circulation of veterans fill their lockers on the Beneath Armour Efficiency Middle in Owings Mills, we at RSR will debate the deserves of a Queen-for-Younger change.
Don’t Make This Commerce
First up, arguing the DO NOT DO IT aspect, we’ve Kevin McNelis and Adam Bonaccorsi.
Take it away, gents…
Kevin
A foreword: on the peak of his recreation, Chase Younger is an excellent EDGE, and there’s a purpose he went second total in 2020. Younger’s Defensive Rookie of the Yr marketing campaign regarded prefer it was going to sign nice issues forward, however that’s largely the place the optimism stopped.
Younger’s ACL tear in Week 10 of 2021 spelled catastrophe for him, however the hassle had begun earlier than that. With opposing offenses now adjusting to Younger as a risk, he had recorded only one.5 sacks via 9 video games, and Washington media famous how a lot he’d struggled towards extra consideration. At instances, it manifested in what regarded like complacency, wanting happy with maintaining his man busy as a substitute of continuous to work.
Whereas his pressures regarded alright (13 via 10 video games in comparison with 24 whole his rookie season), one of many major complaints about Baltimore’s present EDGE group was making use of stress however not getting dwelling. Are we actually safe sufficient in the concept a two-game pattern measurement final season signifies a return to the norm after lacking 23 straight video games? And are you prepared to financial institution on the concept Trenton Simpson might instantly step as much as quantity two on the within linebacker depth chart? At that time, you’re playing on a man who doesn’t know the system turning into your major EDGE, a rookie instantly enjoying to the extent of Queen, and your iLB depth being Malik Harrison and… somebody. Kristian Welch? Josh Ross? Del’Shawn Phillips? In that sense, you’re speaking about a number of rolls of the cube in a scenario the place that desperation doesn’t really feel warranted.
You gotta know when to carry ‘em, and so forth.
All of that is to say nothing of the enterprise facet; Younger carries a cap hit, if traded, of $5.3 million this season, and, like Queen’s contract scenario, you continue to have the identical subject of a brand new contract being due on the finish of the season, solely now in a dearer market at EDGE. Signal me up for a one-year deal for Justin Houston. He received’t come low cost, however he’s conversant in the system and led the crew in sacks final season (9.5), wanting fairly good doing it.
Adam
Shocker: the man who says ‘no’ to every thing is all the best way out on this proposed Queen-for-Younger commerce.
Let’s begin with Ballentine’s suggestion: transport out a confirmed starter in Queen – whose recreation noticeably elevated with the arrival of Roquan Smith final season – and a fourth-round choose in subsequent 12 months’s draft: that’s a reasonably hefty worth for a move rusher who has simply 1.5 sacks within the final two seasons, whereas additionally lacking a ton of time.
On the floor of this proposed deal, I’m not even interested by taking 17 video games of PQ out of the defensive equation for a part-time move rusher, and in the event you say ‘Trenton Simpson’ as if we are able to assume a late Day 2 choose is a plug & play dude over Queen? I want I had your optimism.
However let’s say Simpson is that dude, and we’re simply wanting on the prospect of including Younger and assuming he miraculously stays wholesome. Let’s have a look at his profession to this point…
In Younger’s first profession recreation he recorded 1.5 sacks and a QB Hit towards the Eagles (who went 4-11-1 that season). That 1.5-sack recreation stays probably the most he’s had in any recreation, and three years later, Younger has amassed simply 9 Sacks, 13 Tackles for Loss, 17 QB Hits & six Pressured Fumbles.
Need to make that stat line uglier?
Right here’s those self same stats, however particularly towards groups with profitable information:
1.5 Sacks
2 TFLs
4 QB Hits
1 Pressured Fumble
Which means Younger has racked up the overwhelming majority of his minimal injury towards dropping groups, which inserts the narrative of a participant who has a knack for disappearing when issues get powerful within the trenches.
You actually need to commerce away a beginning caliber inside linebacker and a draft choose for an oft-injured, fading manufacturing rental within the identify of draft standing, crossed fingers and a prayer that he stays wholesome and performs up persistently in Yr 4?
Get pleasure from that…
Make the Commerce
And now, on the aspect of MAKE THE TRADE, we’ve Darin McCann & Nikhil Mehta.
Darin
For the file, I don’t see Patrick Queen as a bust.
The Ravens drafted the uber-athletic linebacker with their first choose in 2020, understanding he was a high-ceiling participant who didn’t even have sufficient collegiate expertise to ascertain a flooring, not to mention decide mentioned flooring’s degree. In his third 12 months, when it’s sane to anticipate a uncooked participant to indicate actual improvement, Queen did simply that, posting by far the very best season of his younger profession, and elevating to an entire completely different degree when the Ravens traded for Roquan Smith. His trajectory is true on schedule, in different phrases.
Nonetheless… make the commerce for Chase Younger if it’s possible.
I do know. Younger has solely performed in 27 video games over the primary three years of his profession, and Queen truly has yet another sack (10-9) throughout that point. And, once more, I do know that he has solely suited up for 12 video games the final two seasons. (I’ve little doubt Adam Bonaccorsi goes to make use of that in his drained, unhappy argument towards the commerce. I actually would if I had been him.)
And it’s a danger. There’s little doubt about it. Say what you need about Queen (Lord is aware of a ton has been mentioned): the man fits up and has began 50 video games over his younger profession — out of fifty doable video games.
But it surely’s a danger value taking. For a crew that’s brief on established pass-rushers and is kicking the tires on the geriatric ward of obtainable free-agent pass-rushers, right here’s the avenue in direction of getting somebody who might make an actual impression.
Think about a four-man rush of Younger, Odafe Oweh, Justin Madubuike and David Ojabo, with Smith and Tyus Bowser or Trenton Simpson manning the second degree. Not unhealthy, proper?
If the Ravens need to shut out video games this season, and postseason, they want somebody who can facilitate that. Possibly Ojabo is that man. Possibly Oweh has a Yr 3 explosion. Possibly. Let’s add one other “possibly” to that unit in hopes of getting one who sticks.
Nikhil
I’ll agree with Darin right here: Patrick Queen is actually not a bust, and he’s not even a participant I’m actively trying to transfer proper now.
But when the brand new possession in Washington sees Queen as a possible centerpiece to their protection for the following half-decade, I’m open to swapping gamers with expiring contracts and including Younger to take the Ravens’ move rush to the following degree in a season with clear Tremendous Bowl aspirations.
This isn’t a knock on Queen. It’s only a reflection of the trendy, pass-happy NFL – like the present standoff over RB salaries.
In comparison with Queen, Younger can have a better impression on move protection because the type of pin-your-ears-back edge rusher the Ravens have lacked for the reason that departure of Matt Judon, exterior of maybe Justin Houston.
Because the roster stands, Baltimore’s edge-rushing group consists of Tyus Bowser, David Ojabo and Odafe Oweh, in addition to rookie Tavius Robinson.
Of these, Bowser is extra of a hybrid linebacker in how the Ravens use him, Ojabo remains to be a second-year, considerably inexperienced participant, and Oweh is, effectively, Oweh. He has all of the instruments however not one of the success you need or anticipate. Robinson has potential, however until he has an surprising rookie breakout, he shouldn’t be getting significant snaps in January.
Which means counting on two younger, comparatively unproven gamers to hold your edge rush with out elite pocket pushers on the inside.
Younger, then again, is loads confirmed. He simply hasn’t been capable of keep wholesome – which is a danger in comparison with the sturdy Queen – however he can share the workload with Bowser, Oweh and Ojabo, which Younger hasn’t been capable of do in his profession.
Yearly, we see gamers make both leaps or returns to high-level play just by getting them in the fitting scenario. Baltimore may very well be that place for Younger. He wouldn’t have the stress of being the centerpiece of a protection; his major job each time he’s within the area can be to get after the quarterback, one thing he does very effectively. A double-digit sack season feels reachable, however extra importantly, he has the expertise (and place) to make game-altering performs when these video games matter probably the most.
Once more, this isn’t to low cost Queen’s potential. He has improved in move protection year-over-year, and he’s actually a stable blitzer, however until each of these abilities take a big leap this 12 months, it’s arduous to see him impacting opposing passing offenses from linebacker greater than Younger can from the sting.
That’s very true within the postseason, when the AFC’s gauntlet of elite quarterbacks will probably be standing between the Ravens and their Tremendous Bowl hopes. In these video games, an edge rusher with Younger’s expertise is solely extra useful than even a top-20 linebacker, particularly with a top-2 beginning linebacker already anchoring the protection.
The Ravens have to dedicate assets to the place video games – playoff video games – are received and misplaced, and that makes the chance of buying Younger effectively definitely worth the potential.
Okay, #RavensFlock, you be the jury. Who made the higher case?
