Free agency has been going on for about a week now, and the Dallas Cowboys have already added several players to the roster. However, the team has yet to add a linebacker after struggling mightily at the position last year. There’s a veteran linebacker currently in trade rumors, but the latest reports indicate that the Cowboys are no longer interested.
Cowboys No Longer Pursuing Patrick Queen Trade
Patrick Queen has been a reliable middle linebacker for years now, but he had a down season in 2025. As a result, the Steelers and Queen are expected to part ways this offseason.
Cowboys insider Nick Harris reported that the Cowboys “kicked the tires” on Queen but have now decided against trading for the veteran.
“Dallas had some intrigue in the building, but the team officially pulled out of its preliminary interest Thursday afternoon,” Harris said of a potential Queen trade.
In 2025, Queen played in all 17 games and recorded 120 tackles, 1 sack, and 8 tackles for loss. PFSN’s LB Impact metric gave the linebacker a 68.7 grade, which ranked 56th out of 89 qualified linebackers.
It seems like the Cowboys felt like they would be settling if they traded for Queen, and they aren’t ready to do that at this point.
“With names such as Bobby Okereke, Bobby Wagner and Lavonte David still on the board, the Cowboys seem to be shifting their focus to address the giant need that grows more concerning with each player who gets signed elsewhere,” Harris wrote.
The team definitely settled in 2025 when they rolled with Kenneth Murray, and the results were not good. Murray earned a 68.7 grade from PFSN’s LB Impact metric in 2025, tying with Queen.
BE AN NFL GM: PFSN’s Ultimate GM Simulator
While the Cowboys are not interested in trading for Queen, they could still be interested if the veteran is released. The team can still explore other free-agent options and evaluate the incoming rookie class.
The Cowboys were a disaster on defense in 2025. In fact, the unit was so bad that defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus was fired after just one season.
PFSN’s Defense Impact metric gave the Cowboys a league-worst 62.1 grade. The Cowboys’ poor defense was the reason they missed the playoffs despite having an elite offense.
This offseason, the team has already taken some steps to improve the unit. Edge rusher Rashan Gary, safety Jalen Thompson, and cornerback Cobie Durant have all been brought in, and the team still has the draft to work with as well.
