Patrick Queen’s Chilling Message to NFL: Steelers Defender Should Beware

Ever wonder what it takes for a linebacker to go from promising rookie to absolute nightmare for opposing offenses? Well, the Pittsburgh Steelers might just have their answer brewing in Payton Wilson—a guy whose first year already showed flashes of brilliance, but more importantly, a swagger that screams potential. Patrick Queen, himself no stranger to defensive dominance, isn’t just impressed; he’s issuing a kind of warning shot to the entire NFL. Could Wilson be on the verge of unlocking not just one, but maybe two levels of untapped greatness? As they say in Pittsburgh, steel sharpens steel—and with signal-calling duties now flipping between Wilson and Queen, it’s clear the Steelers are betting big on this dynamic duo. So buckle up, because this might just be the beginning of a new era in Steelers defense, and trust me—you won’t want to blink.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have a star in the making.

Payton Wilson looked solid in his first year in the NFL, and Patrick Queen said he believes he’s ready to take things to the next level.

“I think Payton got, like, a certain swagger to him that you just know he’s different. Once he learns how to have that confidence fully, he’ll know there’s nobody in this league that can mess with him. The dude, he’s a dog, he’s a competitor, and I know he’s gonna bring it out soon. I definitely think there’s more. I think there’s another level, maybe two levels that he could tap into and just be that guy,” Queen said, via Blitzburgh.

Patrick Queen believes once Payton Wilson gets his full confidence that no one in the NFL will be able to touch him: “I think Payton got, like, a certain swagger to him that you just know he’s different. Once he learns how to have that confidence fully, he’ll know there’s nobody…

— Blitzburgh (@Blitz_Burgh) August 19, 2025

Wilson posted the second-most tackles of any AFC rookie last season, and only three Steelers had more.

Defensive coordinator Teryl Austin would love for him to be on the field as an every-down linebacker, just like Queen, and it seems they’re preparing him for that.

Each of them has been wearing signal-calling helmets during training camp, alternating those duties.

That speaks volumes about the level of confidence the staff has in Wilson entering his second season.

He played most of his snaps in the nickel defense as a rookie, taking advantage of his speed and coverage skills.

Now that Elandon Roberts is no longer on the team, Wilson might get more time in the base defense.

He’s one of the fastest linebackers in the league, as he showed at the NFL Scouting Combine, and the Steelers can get a lot from his quick reactions.

He’s a work in progress, but he might be next in the long line of elite defenders coached by Mike Tomlin.

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