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Steelers DT Named Trade Candidate

The Pittsburgh Steelers third-year defender could find himself being dealt.

Noah Strackbein

Aug 20, 2022; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end DeMarvin Leal (98)
Aug 20, 2022; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end DeMarvin Leal (98) / Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
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PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers had high expectations for third-round pick DeMarvin Leal when they selected him in the 2021 NFL Draft. But after two years and a step backward last season, one team reporter believes he could be on the move.

Leal played just 12 games in 2023, recording 15 tackles and one sack. His snap count on defense was just 25% for a second consecutive season, leaving him as a reserve piece to the defensive line while names like Armon Watts and Isaiahh Loudermilk surpassed him.

Entering year three, things aren't getting him after the team signed veteran Dean Lowry. And Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Brian Batko believes that it could be coming close to the time Pittsburgh moves on.

"Occasionally, players who can have some value to other teams in trade talks are ones that have decent draft pedigree and physical attributes, measurables and just haven’t panned out in the NFL," Batko said on the North Shore Nine podcast. "I look at the Steelers’ D-line, kind of go down the list, DeMarvin Leal, third-rounder a couple years ago just has not panned out here through two seasons. A little bit injury-induced, but I think more so just hasn’t developed the way they want."

The Steelers haven't been afraid to move on from players this offseason, and have made trades with almost every position since Omar Khan took over as general manager. With the team looking at several defensive tackles in the NFL Draft, the possibility of a Leal trade is probably on the table.

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Noah Strackbein
NOAH STRACKBEIN

Noah is the Publisher for All Steelers, Inside the Panthers (InsideThePanthers.com) and Inside the Penguins (InsidethePenguins.com), and is the host of All Steelers Talk (YouTube.com/AllSteelersTalk). A Scranton native, Noah made his way to the Pittsburgh sports scene in 2017. Now, he's pretty much full-yinzer.

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