Steelers Former 3rd Round Pick Now A Trade Candidate After Lackluster Two Seasons: "Bad Fit"

The Pittsburgh Steelers have had an extremely busy 2024 offseason on the offensive side of the ball. Aside from the big signing of Patrick Queen and trade to acquire Donte Jackson, the defensive unit has been relatively quiet in terms of new faces. One of the areas that the team needs to improve is certainly the defensive line, but the draft class in 2024 is relatively unimpressive. It remains to be seen what other moves will be made, but a small free-agent signing of Dean Lowry isn't going to get the job done for the group. 

Addition by subtraction may be in the cards for General Manager Omar Khan when it comes to revamping the unit. If one looks to what the head of the front office has been doing with the offensive line, it may be setting a precedent. He hasn't been afraid to move on from guys that Kevin Colbert drafted in his final few years with the organization, and more of the same might be coming.

Just prior to the 2023 campaign, Khan dealt both Kevin Dotson and Kendrick Green to the Los Angeles Rams and Houston Texans, respectively. Green lost most of the season due to injury, but Dotson had an incredible campaign that led to him earning a massive contract extension. After being drafted in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft, DeMarvin Leal was expected to be a staple on the Steelers' defensive line for many years. The 2023 season proved that the team's coaching staff thinks otherwise.

It's not clear what a team looking for help on the defensive front would cough up for Leal, but he's a young player with two more years left on his rookie contract. Leal showed promise in his rookie season before taking a step back behind guys like Armon Watts, Montravius Adams, Keeanu Benton, and even Isaiahh Loudermilk. Leal played in the least amount of games out of that group.

Steelers beat writer Brian Batko of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette joined Christopher Carter on the North Shore Drive Podcast to discuss the possibility of Pittsburgh looking to move on from certain players. The first individual that came to Batko's mind was Leal. The Texas A&M product hasn't done enough in two years in the Steel City.

"I look at the Steelers d-line and go down the list. DeMarvin Leal, third-rounder a couple years ago, just has not panned out here through two seasons," Batko said. "A little bit injury induced, but I think more so, just hasn't developed the way they want. I don't know if that's a work ethic deal, bad fit."

One of the biggest issues for the Steelers, according to Batko, was Leal descending as the 2023 campaign went on. He was inactive in four of the team's last five games to wrap up the regular season.

"It was a terrible finish to his second season at a time when the Steelers normally wanna see any draft pick, but especially a top three-round draft pick, start to ascend."

It will be interesting to see if Khan and co. decide to add to the room prior to the 2024 NFL Draft, but it's going to be hard to find a top-tier talent in the mid-to-later rounds, assuming Pittsburgh wants to focus on a center, wide receiver, tackle and cornerback. Khan sent a message when he moved on from Dotson and Green, and Leal might be the next player to receive similar treatment.

Steelers Aren't Afraid To Admit Mistakes Under Khan's Leadership

Dotson and Green aren't the only two that Pittsburgh has cut ties with after short stints in the Steel City. Kenny Pickett was a first-round back in 2022 and is already out of town after the additions of Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. Green was a horrific third-round pick back in 2021 and Leal followed him in 2022. Now, the defensive lineman might me on his way out of town if the Steelers can get any kind of reasonable draft compensation.

Do you think the Steelers should trade Leal? Let us know in the comments below!

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