Steelers' DeMarvin Leal Is Seriously Confident Heading Into 2024: "Keep Counting Me Out"

The Pittsburgh Steelers are heading into the 2024 season with an upgraded roster on both sides of the ball, save for one area of concern. Pittsburgh's defensive line will be under a microscope when the Steelers begin 2024 training camp on July 25th, with the recent Cameron Heyward contract issues exacerbating the situation. Behind Heyward on the depth chart is a group of defensive linemen who want to make an impact in 2024, and DeMarvin Leal knows how important 2024 is for his career.

Pittsburgh invested a third-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft on Leal in an effort to start addressing the defensive line before Heyward's age became too much of an issue. However, after Leal turned in two subpar seasons in 2022 and 2023, including a slew of healthy scratches, there were questions about how much Leal was actually capable of. As the Steelers look ahead to 2024 training camp, Leal seems to be fully focused on the task in front of him, and on his rarely-used X account, the former Texas A&M standout had some strong words for his doubters.

Heyward is entering his 14th NFL season, and despite being 35 years old, which is considered ancient by many standards in the league, the 2023 Walter Payton Man of the Year has no doubt he has more than enough gas left in the tank. While Heyward's eventual departure from the Steelers now seems to be further off than previously believed, especially if he gets the contract extension being sought, the need for depth on the defensive line is still a necessity.

Leal has an uphill battle ahead of him, and not just because of Heyward's desire to play for several more years. Keeanu Benton is Leal's biggest obstacle to earning a starting spot in the near future. Benton was Pittsburgh's second-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, and he turned in an impressive rookie season that got him nine starts during the season. Compared to where Leal is in his NFL journey, all Benton needs to do is maintain the course to ensure Leal remains a backup.

Leal's 2023 campaign started out with plenty of opportunities for the defensive lineman, as he got to start three of Pittsburgh's first four games. However, that was mainly based on the positive way Leal ended his 2022 rookie season, and the momentum did not carry over into the following year. As his role in the defense became smaller and smaller by the week, eventually, ahead of Pittsburgh's Week 14 clash with the New England Patriots, Leal was made a healthy scratch.

Leal faces more hurdles than just Benton, with Breiden Fehoko, Dean Lowry, Montravius Adams, and rookie Logan Lee also eager to prove that they are deserving of a role in Teryl Austin's defense. With such promise entering his NFL career, Leal is now at a crossroads, and the way he approaches the 2024 season will determine the direction his future takes.

Steelers Need Both Trenches Ready

Pittsburgh's defensive line will be a point of interest for the Steelers when the team's 2024 training camp begins. Beyond Heyward's contract, Pittsburgh needs to have a reliable group that can help the rest of the defense be successful. Considering that the Steelers have more money invested in the defense than any other team in the NFL, the expectation is for the offense to be able to rely on the defense for support. Over the 2023 and 2024 offseasons, the Steelers have taken major steps to ensure the offensive line was an area of strength, leaving the defensive line as the weaker of the two.

It will be up to Leal and the rest of the hopefuls in the defensive trenches to make sure the Steelers field a cohesive, dangerous unit. TJ Watt will be ready to once again put together an award-winning campaign, but in order for Pittsburgh's stars to be effective, both the foundational and rotational players need to show up ready to dominate. Whether that will include Leal or not is up to him, but whoever steps up will be a much-needed piece on the way to success.

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