The Pittsburgh Steelers selected a defensive lineman in the sixth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. The team also added to the position group through undrafted free agency. But if the Steelers are still in the market for depth along the defensive front, John Harbaugh just made one of the organization’s former draft picks available.
The New York Giants released defensive lineman DeMarvin Leal this week according to the league’s transaction wire. Leal’s release came just a little more than three months after the Giants made the 25-year-old the first signing for the team of the Harbaugh era.
Leal began his career with the Steelers as a third-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. Pittsburgh selected him at No. 84 overall in that class.
All 32 games in which Leal has played in the NFL have come with the Steelers.
Last season, the defensive lineman appeared in four contests. He posted two combined tackles. Leal spent most of the season on the team’s practice squad.
In January, the Steelers released Leal, who the Giants quickly scooped up on a futures deal.
Over four seasons, Leal has registered 35 combined tackles, including three tackles for loss. He has also posted three quarterback hits, four pass defenses and one sack.
He’s started six games in his career, the most recent of which came in 2023. During 2025, Leal played 20 defensive snaps and 10 on special teams.
Giants Release Former Steelers Lineman DeMarvin Leal
With his release from the Giants, Leal is a free agent for the second time this offseason.
Despite being the first signing of the Harbaugh era in New York, Leal became expendable with the Giants addressing edge rusher in the 2026 NFL Draft. Most notably, the Giants selected Ohio State edge rusher Arvell Reese at No. 5 overall.
The Steelers once viewed Leal as a future starter to help replace Cameron Heyward. While Heyward is still playing, that responsible now belongs to Keeanu Benton and Derrick Harmon.
Pittsburgh drafted Benton and Harmon each earlier than the third round in the NFL Draft after it became clear Leal wouldn’t earn a starting role.
Leal started four contests in 2023. Those opportunities came when a groin injury sidelined Heyward for most of the first half of that season.
But by the end of 2023, Leal was a healthy scratch.
During 2023, Leal played a career-high 206 defensive snaps. With that playing time, he amassed 15 combined tackles, including two tackles for loss. Leal also had one pass defense and one sack.
Steelers Missed on Re-Signing Dean Lowry
The Steelers have previously waived Leal only to eventually bring him back. Even with a new head coach in Mike McCarthy, it’s worth wondering if the defensive lineman could make his way back to Pittsburgh.
A Steelers return for Leal might be even more possible after NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Tuesday veteran defensive lineman Dean Lowry wasn’t re-signing with Pittsburgh.
On Sunday, Rapoport reported Lowry was signing a new deal with the Steelers. But instead, the veteran will continue to rehab from his 2025 ACL injury.
Still, the Steelers have enough defensive line depth that bringing back Leal is probably a long shot. Overall, Pittsburgh has 12 defensive linemen on its offseason roster.
In the 2026 NFL Draft, the Steelers grabbed defensive end Gabriel Rubio in the sixth round.
John Harbaugh, Giants Cut Ex-Steelers 3rd-Round Pick