NFL player comparisons for Pittsburgh Steelers DL DeMarvin Leal

Most likely NFL comparison: Matt Ioannidis

I went back and watched some film on Matt Ioannidis from his time in Washington, and it’s crazy how similar his game is to DeMarvin Leal’s. Ioannidis isn’t as talented of a player as teammate Jonathan Allen, but he is very impressive in his own right with his quickness and ability to get after the quarterback.

From 2017 to 2019, Ioannidis started 34 games for Washington. During this time, the nimble defensive tackle earned an impressive 17.5 sacks and 44 quarterback hits. In 2020, Ioannidis landed on IR after just 3 games, and he played in just a part-time role last season.

Still, the former fifth-round pick has had a very impressive career with Washington before signing with the Carolina Panthers this offseason. He has graded out as a top-35 interior defender in 2019 and 2021.

Leal could have a very similar career path as Ioannidis — starting off as a part-time player who later steps into a full-time role on the defensive line and puts up solid numbers. Ioannidis is one of the better interior pass rushers in the NFL over the past five years but isn’t particularly great against the run. I think Leal could win in a similar way at the next level.

I would love for the Steelers to be able to find a Jonathan Allen-type player with their third-round pick, but Matt Ioannidis seems much more realistic. Either way, I do believe Pittsburgh is getting a solid football player with DeMarvin Leal.