Steelers Sign Third-Round Pick DL DeMarvin Leal to Rookie Contract

The Steelers ave agreed to sign its third-round pick from the 2022 NFL Draft, defensive lineman DeMarvin Leal, the team announced on Friday.

Leal will now be signed to his four-year deal through the 2025 season with the Steelers. While immediate financial details of the deal were not released, OverTheCap estimates that the deal with be worth $5.4 million dollars over the four years with a signing bonus north of a million for Leal.

In Leal’s three years with the Texas A&M Aggies, he recorded 133 tackles and 25 tackles for loss.  His most productive season in college came in 2021, when he had 58 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, and 8.5 sacks. The 6-foot-4, 283-pound Leal will now join the likes of Cam Heyward, Tyson Alualu, Isaiahh Loudermilk, Chris Wormley, and others.

In his first year, Leal is likely destined for a rotational role while he gets his weight right. Leal is up 15 pounds from his time at the NFL Combine and will be learning to play at the new, heavier weight.

Leal now becomes the fifth draft pick that the Steelers have signed, joining George Pickens, Mark Robinson, Connor Heyward, and Chris Oladokun. They still have yet to sign fourth-round pick Calvin Austin III and first-round pick Kenny Pickett to their rookie contracts.