The Pittsburgh Steelers have some tough decisions to make throughout training camp, including on their defensive line.
The Steelers selected a high-upside defensive end in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft, DeMarvin Leal. He displayed mediocre production in his rookie campaign and regressed further last season. If training camp does not pan out in his favor, Leal could find himself seeking a new home.
This is why Sports Illustrated's Noah Strackbein listed him as the Steelers' roster bubble player.
"DeMarvin Leal. Leal had pretty high expectations after he was selected in the third round of the 2022 NFL draft. But after taking a step backward last season, the third-year veteran is a roster bubble candidate," Strackbein wrote. "He’ll need to beat out either Isaiahh Loudermilk or Montravius Adams for a spot on the 53-man roster, which will be determined by whether he can find a role within the defensive line as a pass rusher."
If pass-rushing needs to become Leal's upper hand, the situation is not in his favor. The 6-foot-4, 290-pound defensive end has recorded just a single sack in his career. Leal stated on numerous occasions in the later half of last season that he's ready to prove his worth to Pittsburgh's front office.
To do so, he must first secure his spot on the 53-man roster during training camp.
