The Pittsburgh Steelers finally ended the DeMarvin Leal experiment just hours before the 2025 roster deadline. Leal, a Texas A&M product and former five-star recruit, was a third-round pick by the Steelers in Kevin Colbert's final draft class in 2025. But before he could make it through his rookie contract with the Steelers, Leal finds himself out of a job.
Leal was always an odd fit for the Steelers, who run a base 3-4 defense. He wasn't fast enough to make his presence felt as an outside linebacker, and he wasn't big enough to be a full-time interior defender.
But after his release, his next team has already become crystal clear.
The Cincinnati Bengals should sign former Pittsburgh Steelers defender DeMarvin Leal
The Cincinnati Bengals had an atrocious defense in 2024, and they didn't do much to improve that side of the ball during the 2025 offseason. While the Bengals spent their first-round pick on defensive end Shemar Stewart, the raw rookie sat out for most of the team's summer activities and is bound to have growing pains in his first season.
Meanwhile, former first-round pick Myles Murphy has been extremely underwhelming in his first two seasons. The defensive end out of Clemson didn't record a sack in 13 games last season and was a complete liability against the run.
And let's not forget about Trey Hendrickson. Though the All-Pro defender finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting in 2024, Hendrickson sat out of practice the entire summer before finally agreeing to a one-year contract the day before NFL roster cuts. The Bengals won't want to overwork Hendrickson early in the year, and the star pass rusher could be entering his final season in Cincinnati.
That's where Leal comes in. Leal is far from perfect, and the Steelers could no longer justify having a 'tweener' on their roster—a player stuck between an edge rusher and a defensive tackle. But the Bengals' situation is different.
Cincinnati runs a 4-3 defense, and they could use some added depth. Leal could come in right away and compete for work as the first defensive end off the bench in the Bengals' defensive rotation.
While the Bengals have some big bodies at defensive tackle in T.J. Slaton, B.J. Hill, and McKinnley Jackson, they could use a quicker, more athletic interior defender to pair with Kris Jenkins Jr. Leal doesn't have a ton of experience rushing from the inside at the NFL level, but his frame and skillset suggests he could be best opperating as a 3-technique defensive tackle on passing downs.
DeMarvin Leal's presence won't move the needle for whichever team he signs with, but the Cincinnati Bengals should already have their sights set on the former Pittsburgh Steelers third-round pick after roster cuts.
Leal turned just 25 years old in July, and he's got more to offer this league. If he lands in the right scheme, he could look like a much better player than he did over his first three years with the Pittsburgh Steelers.