The Carolina Panthers need a linebacker upgrade, and Pittsburgh Steelers veteran Patrick Queen is exactly the kind of name that should be on their radar if things get weird before Week 1. Carolina doesn’t have to force anything. But if Queen becomes available by trade, or somehow hits the open market, the Panthers should at least make the call.

This isn’t about chasing a perfect player. Queen isn’t that. It’s about recognizing a roster problem before it turns into a weekly headache.

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The Panthers added Devin Lloyd in free agency, giving them one dependable piece in the middle of the defense. That was a real move. But the other starting linebacker spot still feels shaky, and that’s where the Patrick Queen conversation gets interesting.

Trevin Wallace has talent, but asking him to be a full-time answer right now feels aggressive. According to Pro Football Focus, Wallace ranked 55th out of 88 qualifying linebackers in overall grade last season. The bigger issue was his work against the run, where his 43.3 run-defense grade ranked near the bottom of the position.

That’s not a small problem in the NFC South.

The Panthers are trying to build something tougher, faster and more stable under a defense that can’t keep leaking yards between the tackles. Carolina doesn’t need another maybe. It needs another linebacker who can walk into the room and raise the floor.

Queen might be that guy, even if his Pittsburgh run hasn’t exactly screamed “sure thing.”

After arriving from the Baltimore Ravens, Queen has been uneven with the Steelers. There have been splash plays. There have also been missed tackles, blown assignments and enough inconsistency to make his contract a talking point. Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay recently listed Queen as a potential cut candidate, noting Pittsburgh could save nearly $11 million by moving on.

That’s where this gets spicy.

The Steelers reportedly have limited cap breathing room, and Queen’s deal gives them a financial escape hatch. On paper, that makes him vulnerable. In reality, it’s not that simple.

Pittsburgh would still have to replace him. And unless the Steelers already trust someone in-house, cutting Queen just to go bargain shopping at linebacker doesn’t make much sense. The free-agent market isn’t exactly loaded with obvious plug-and-play answers. Any replacement would also eat into the savings, which weakens the argument for a clean release.

A trade is more realistic than a cut, but even that feels like a long shot right now.

The Steelers are built to compete, and Queen still gives them athleticism, experience and upside at a position where depth disappears fast. Unless Pittsburgh falls out of the race or gets an offer it can’t ignore, keeping him through at least the trade deadline feels like the safer play.

Still, Carolina should be watching.

Queen’s best football came in Baltimore, where he looked more decisive, more violent and more comfortable attacking downhill. Maybe that player is still in there. Maybe Pittsburgh just hasn’t been the cleanest fit. Maybe a new defensive role could unlock him again.

The Panthers don’t need to bet the house to find out. But if Queen becomes available at a reduced cost, he’d give Carolina another experienced linebacker to pair with Lloyd and take pressure off Wallace. Even if Queen isn’t a star, he could still be an upgrade in a room that needs more proven options.

That’s the key distinction here.

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This isn’t a “go get him at any cost” situation. It’s a “don’t be asleep if the door opens” situation.

The Panthers have made enough moves to show they’re not interested in another throwaway season. But the linebacker spot still looks like one of the soft spots on the depth chart. If Patrick Queen suddenly shakes loose from Pittsburgh, Carolina should be ready to move fast.

Because waiting until the defense is getting gashed in October would be too late.