We're all aware of the Pittsburgh Steelers top two draft picks of the 2022 NFL Draft for a variety of reasons. QB Kenny Pickett was taken in the first round and has shown flashes of potentially being the future of the Steelers organization at the quarterback position. Second round pick, WR George Pickens has been raved about since training camp started. The rookie wide receiver has taken the league by storm, as the Steelers may have another budding superstar in the WR room. However, the Steelers third round draft pick of this past draft cycle has seemingly taken a backseat to the other two in regards to storylines, but one can argue he's been just as impressive!
Jordan Schofield/SteelerNation (@JSKO_PHOTO Twitter)
Before the Steelers got into the thick of things in training camp in Latrobe, one NFL analyst pegged rookie DL DeMarvin Leal as a must-watch player.
“The ultra-talented Leal could enjoy a banner rookie season in a defense that will enable him to play fast and free at the line of scrimmage,” analyst Bucky Brooks stated in an article published by NFL.com. “The 6-foot-4, 290-pounder is a long, rangy interior defender with the strength and athleticism to drive guards and tackles crazy at the point of attack.""As a fluid mover with solid instincts, Leal could flourish on a front that features Cam Heyward and reigning Defensive Player of the Year, T.J. Watt. If Leal quickly grasps the concepts and techniques preached by defensive line coach, Karl Dunbar, the third-round pick could become a problem for opponents attempting to attack the middle of the Steelers defense.”
Jordan Schofield/SteelerNation (@JSKO_PHOTO Twitter)
Leal has been dominating any offensive lineman that coaches have put in front of him during training camp. Just ask Steelers head coach, Mike Tomlin, who Leal has impressed.
In a recent Q&A type article via Steelers.com, editor Bob Labriola asked Tomlin, "There has been a lot of attention paid to No. 1 pick Kenny Pickett, and also to No. 2 pick George Pickens. What can you tell us about the progress made by No. 3 pick, DeMarvin Leal, the defensive lineman from Texas A&M?"
"He's really done a nice job, and as you mentioned, some of the others have garnered attention, and appropriately so," Tomlin answered. "I was impressed with what Leal did between the spring and camp in terms of his conditioning. You could tell that he was working extremely hard, and he came back ready, and that's a great platform from which to begin.""He's growing and learning every day. He's in a veteran group, around guys like Cam Heyward and Chris Wormley and Larry Ogunjobi, so he's getting that type of tutelage. He's showing flashes of his pedigree and talent, and so the process is running its course. He's got some development to do, some plays to make, some more growth and development needs to transpire, but I like the general trajectory of where it's headed."
Jordan Schofield/SteelerNation (@JSKO_PHOTO Twitter)
Can Leal continue this positive spike in his trajectory as the Steelers take on the Jacksonville Jaguars on Saturday night in the team's second preseason action of the 2022 season? We'll have to wait and see, but he has great veteran leadership to look up to in the DL room. His pedigree and talent has surely caught the eye of Tomlin during training camp.
What do yinz think about the Steelers under-discussed third round draft pick, DeMarvin Leal? Will he put on a show in the team's 2nd preseason game Saturday night? Let us know in the comment section below, or on Facebook, Twitter, and/or Instagram!
#SteelerNation
