Las Vegas Raiders 2020 NFL Draft prospect profile: Patrick Queen
Fit in Las Vegas
As we discussed in the Kenneth Murray profile, the Will and Mike linebacker positions are currently occupied by Nick Kwiatkoski and Cory Littleton so if the Raiders select a new starter in the draft, he would slot in to Sam position. According to The Athletic, Queen’s primary weaknesses include a tendency to get “hung up on blocks and must develop his stack/shed skills [and] bite hard on play fakes” so he could have trouble against the run.
The additional concern there is Queen’s lack of size at just 6’ and 229lbs which is a similar build to the Raiders other undersized backer Nicholas Morrow. In a division with Noah Fant, Travis Kelce, and Hunter Henry and a league where the tight ends keep getting bigger and faster, can Queen hold up in coverage? The Athletic lists one of his strengths as the ability to “swivel [his] hips to turn and stick with skill players in coverage” so they believe he can cover speedy receivers but may get bullied by larger targets.
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To sum up his draft profile, The Athletic describes Queen as a “a super athletic run-and-hit linebacker with excellent mirror skills and the fluidity to turn and run in coverage, projecting as a high-upside NFL starter with every-down ability”. So if the Raiders stand pat with the 12 and 19 picks it may be a reach to see them select Queen but if they trade down to the late first or early second they could take a swing at the athletic LSU linebacker.