Patrick Queen, LB, LSU

Height: 6-1

Weight: 227

Class: Junior

D.O.B.: 8/13/99

Statistical Profile: Queen has only started 16 collegiate games, including 12 this past season, his first as a full-time starter. It was a dominant junior campaign for the 20 year-old, who finished with 12 tackles-for-loss, three sacks, a HUGE interception of Tua Tagovailoa and a couple of pass breakups.

Where he wins: I like linebackers that play fast, always have and always will. So Queen was an easy evaluation for me to be drawn to, even if I recognize there are still some chinks in his armor.

When I think of the traits I value at linebacker, range, key & diagnose ability, coverage ability and tackling top my list. Despite just one full season as a starter, Queen shone in three of these four areas, and wasn’t bad as a tackler either.

The easiest thing to note in Queen’s evaluation is that he can fly, getting from sideline-to-sideline with ease and covering a ton of ground in a hurry. He’ll take aggressive angles too, trusting his speed to get home. Usually he’s right.

Queen still has to improve in his diagnostics at the position, but that’s true of all young linebackers, and he’s already further ahead than most. His desire to play fast requires a strong reliance on reading and reacting to his keys in a hurry, working ahead of blockers to get to the ball before they can pin him down. Queen was deadly against pullers this season, consistently tracking to the ball from the backside or stepping up to meet blockers playside.

In coverage Queen showed excellent range and active feet, tracking the quarterback’s eyes and putting himself in position to make plays on the ball. I think his arrow is pointing up in this area, but for year one he showed great traits and good positioning. He didn’t get too many reps in man coverage which is typical for college linebackers, but one of his best came against Najee Harris where he technically surrendered a touchdown thanks to a perfect pass he couldn’t touch.

Where he may struggle: Queen isn’t a bad tackler, but he does have some ugly whiffs on tape, often due to overrunning his target and failing to throttle down in space. That can be fixed in time, but he would have more hitting power as a tackler if he played behind his pads more too. He can also get lazy with his form and throw an arm or shoulder at a runner rather than wrapping up properly.

Queen’s biggest weakness comes in taking on blocks, as he can be knocked about in the box and pushed past plays if he doesn’t beat opponents to the ball. When he’s kept clean and plays fast, his weaknesses are hardly noticeable, but he’s a narrow-framed linebacker without elite size. That’ll matter against NFL blockers and certain run schemes if he doesn’t keep making progress from the neck up. Queen could also stand to be more consistently physical when taking on blocks.

Man coverage will be a question for almost all college linebackers, although Queen’s few reps are great on tape. He’ll be tested far more with coverage responsibilities of all types in the NFL, and his zone processing can definitely still improve, but all the traits are there for a difference maker at the next level.

Bucs Fit: You know Jason Licht will watch Queen’s tape ten times, just wishing he could afford to take another LSU linebacker, but the Bucs won’t pull the trigger this time. Queen would be a perfect eventual replacement for Lavonte David, but Tampa will have to pass on the position early in the draft this year, as other needs will obviously take precedent.

Grade: Early 2nd Round