Torque is a rather meaningless number on its own just like rpm, but rpm is equally important of a number as torque.
If I said I had two engines that made 300lbs-ft it really tells you nothing about the engines or its ability to perform.
Same as rpm if I said one makes peak torque at 3000 rpm and the other 6000 rpm which also tells you nothing, that's why they invented HP.
If I told you one engine made 171 HP and told you the other made 342 HP you would know engine 2 could do twice the work no matter the the torque or rpm numbers.
300lbs-ft X 3000 rpm / 5252 = 171 HP
300lbs-ft X 6000 rpm / 5252 = 342 HP
