Defensive lineman DeMarvin Leal has had a difficult start to his NFL career. Three years ago, the Pittsburgh Steelers used a third-round selection on him. Though always expected to be a project needing time to develop, Leal hasn’t made much progress heading into the final year of his rookie deal.
That isn’t all his fault. He suffered a season-ending neck injury in 2024 after playing in just five games. It was part of a wave of injuries that hit the Steelers toward the beginning of the year, and it derailed any chance he had at further development in his third season.