There may be no bigger enigma on the Steelers roster than defensive lineman DeMarvin Leal.
Prior to his season-ending neck injury early in the 2024 season, Leal showed signs of the potential that once made him one of the top defensive linemen in college football during his junior year at Texas A&M. After a strong showing at training camp, Leal carried that momentum into the preseason games, where he was one of the standout performers on defense. In three games, he registered five tackles, 1.5 sacks, and two quarterback hits.
As has been the case since 2023, injuries have played a major role in impeding his progress. That season, he sustained a concussion in Week 5 and was benched from Week 15 through the playoffs. This past season, Leal remained on the team’s injured reserve list after his Week 6 neck injury, eventually undergoing a procedure to address the issue.
Even if Leal stays healthy, the key will be finding his true position of strength. At 290 lbs, Leal is not your traditional edge rusher in the Steelers’ 3-4 defensive schemes. Yet, at the same time, he may not have the requisite size and strength to be a consistent 3-technique defensive tackle. However, it should be noted that he made significant improvements as a run stopper. In the five games he played last season, Leal registered a run defense grade of 73.8, which placed him 18th out of 211 qualified edge defenders at the time, according to Pro Football Focus.
He also demonstrated his ability to apply pressure in the right spots. Perhaps, similar to how he was used during his years with the Aggies, the team may get the best version of him when he is moved around to multiple spots. Ultimately, Leal himself will determine whether he can be effective regardless of where he is positioned.
Much like the Steelers' 2021 draft class, the 2022 class might be nearing its final days on the roster due to the surrounding uncertainty. With this in mind, 2025 could very well be DeMarvin Leal's last chance to make the kind of impression that could secure his long-term spot on the team. One can assume that he'll use this as motivation to prove he can be a key player in turning this team around.
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