Steelers address defense in 3rd round with lineman Leal from Texas A&M

After taking a quarterback and wide receiver with their first two draft picks, the Pittsburgh Steelers turned their attention to defense in the third round Friday night.

DeMarvin Leal, a 6-foot-4, 283-pound defensive lineman from Texas A&M went to the Steelers with the No. 84 overall pick.

The Steelers selected Leal one pick after the Philadelphia Eagles took linebacker Nakobe Dean, a projected first-rounder.

Leal, a 21-year-old junior, finished the 2021 season tied for fifth in the SEC with 8 1/2 sacks and tied for ninth with 12 1/2 tackles for loss. He led Texas A&M in both categories and was a first-team All-American last year when he also was a finalist for the Ted Hendricks Award, given to the nation’s top defensive end.

He provides an infusion of youth on the defensive line. In May, nose tackle Tyson Alualu turns 35, defensive tackle Cameron Heyward will be 33 and defensive end Stephon Tuitt, who did not play last season, will be 29.

“You’re always looking to add good players regardless of position,” defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said. “Good players help us become a better team. If you can add a quality young defensive lineman, that is always helpful. You can’t ever have enough of those young guys.”

Leal said he patterns his style of play after J.J. Watt and Aaron Donald. It’s not lost on him that he’ll line up on defense in front of NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year T.J. Watt.

“I’m a little brother myself,” he said. “We always want to be the best we can be. T.J. is the craziest pass rusher. I can’t wait to get to work with him, combine our talents and get after the quarterback.”

Leal is the first defensive lineman the Steelers have taken in the third round since nose tackle Javon Hargrave in 2016.

Leal played defensive tackle and end at Texas A&M. Austin said Leal initially will be used at defensive end. If Leal is going to play on the interior, he would need to add some weight. At 283 pounds, he is the lightest player among Steelers defensive linemen save for Henry Mondeaux.

“If you’re going to play in base (defense), that position takes a bigger man,” Austin said. “He has the frame to do it. He was probably playing at that weight because that’s what they needed at his school. I have no reservations about him being able to fit anywhere in our scheme.”

Leal follows 2021 classmates Dan Moore Jr. and Buddy Johnson to the Steelers. Defensive line coach Karl Dunbar attended Texas A&M’s pro day this year and filed a glowing report on Leal.

“We had a very nice grade on him,” Austin said. “The fact he was sitting there really surprised all of us.”