Former third-round selection DeMarvin Leal was mentioned by Brian Batko of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette as a possible trade target for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Kenny Pickett, the quarterback, was dealt by the Pittsburgh Steelers to the Philadelphia Eagles over the offseason. The Houston Texans acquired offensive tackle Kendrick Green from the Steelers in a trade last season. As either a first-round or Day 2 draft pick for Pittsburgh, both players were let down.
However, the Steelers might not be done offloading their underperforming draft selections from the Kevin Colbert era. On March 29, Brian Batko of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette maintained that defensive tackle DeMarvin Leal might be traded by the Steelers during the summer.
When making a trade, your goal is to offset a position of weakness by dealing from a position of strength. Batko stated on the North Shore Nine podcast that the defensive line is one position on the Steelers roster that at least has depth from top to bottom. “Players who haven’t worked out in the NFL but have a respectable draft history, good physical qualities, and measurables may occasionally be of some use to other clubs in trade negotiations.
What catchphrase has Mike Tomlin been using a lot this offseason? a shift in the environment. Kenny Pickett wanted it, he claimed. It was Justin Fields’ desire. So occasionally, that can benefit guys as well.
“When I consider the Steelers’ defensive line, I kind of move down the list. DeMarvin Leal was a third-round pick a few years back, but he hasn’t performed well here over the past two seasons. a little bit injury-related, but I believe it’s more a case of not having matured to their full potential.
Leal made four starts in the 2023 season’s first half. However, after Cameron Heyward recovered from his injury, he saw a considerable drop in playing time.
Leal then rested five times during Pittsburgh’s final six games, including the playoffs, as a precaution.
In the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft, the Steelers selected Leal with the 84th overall pick. In 12 games last season, he recorded 15 total tackles, including 2 tackles for loss and 2 quarterback hits. He also got one pass defense and one sack.
Mike Tomlin of the Steelers Warns DeMarvin Leal
During his post-season press conference, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin addressed the future of the 2022 third-round pick, but he made no mention of trading Leal this offseason. However, Tomlin made it quite evident that the group isn’t exactly happy with his progress.
In response to a query on January 18 on Leal’s potential role with the team in 2024, Tomlin said, “There certainly is.” However, he must play a part in that.
He needs to put in some work because, as we all know, we only put helmets on the players we believe will be most effective in ensuring our success.
Batko hypothesized that Leal’s lack of achievement might be the consequence of a subpar work ethic. Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that Leal arrived at training camp last year out of condition.
Fittipaldo continues, “He has talent, but he doesn’t seem to have much urgency to develop.”
What Would the Steelers Get in Exchange for DeMarvin Leal?
On paper, trading a draft flop like Leal seems like a wonderful idea. However, the truth is that their value on the trade market is generally quite low.
Leal’s talent may pique the eye of NFL organizations. He was a 5-star prospect and the #1 recruit in Texas when he graduated from high school. However, it’s unlikely that the Steelers will acquire much more from a trade this summer for him than a late Day 3 selection.
Christopher Carter of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette suggested that the Steelers move up on Day 3 of the draft by exchanging picks with Leal in a deal.
Leal has become disposable in Pittsburgh, especially considering how 2023 second-round selection Keeanu Benton performed as a rookie. For this reason, the Steelers may find it worthwhile to part with Leal despite his meager salary.
