NFL analyst urges Dolphins to trade for Steelers defensive lineman

The Miami Dolphins largely have the pieces in place on the offense. They just locked down their quarterback for the foreseeable future. They have arguably the best wide receiver duo in the NFL with Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. They worked in the offseason to improve the offensive line, and they have a veritable track team at running back with Raheem Mostert and De’Von Achane .

It’s the defense that could be seen as the weak link on the team, and the front office knows that. That’s evidenced by the fact that the majority of the free agent signings they made were addressing needs on that side of the ball. They brought in linebackers like Jordyn Brooks and Anthony Walker to shore up the linebacker corps. They brought in former long-time Buffalo Bills safety Jordan Poyer and Washington Commanders cornerback Kendall Fuller to improve the defensive backfield.

They also brought in former Baltimore Ravens linebackers coach Anthony Weaver to helm the defense and bring it all together. There was a lot of attention paid in the offseason to the defense as a whole, but what about the defensive line specifically? Miami made some signings at the position, but they were mostly for depth. On the flip side, they lost one of their biggest defensive contributors in the offseason, defensive lineman Christian Wilkins, and didn’t replace him.

What can the Dolphins do to try and help account for that loss? According to Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine , the team should pull off a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers for defensive lineman DeMarvin Leal. Leal wouldn’t be a one-to-one replacement for Wilkins, of course, but Ballentine argues he could help lessen the blow.

Leal has been largely a disappointment with Pittsburgh, starting just six games and getting just one sack in those six games over two seasons. Ballentine argues that Weaver could possibly revitalize Leal’s career, pointing to the work he did last season in Baltimore generating pass rush with Kyle Van Noy and Jadeveon Clowney, along with his role in Justin Madubuike having a breakout season.

All the Dolphins would have to give up in a deal for Leal would be a fifth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft according to the proposal put forth by Ballentine. It could be worth it to find another contributor on the defensive line and help make up for the lost production from letting Wilkins walk in free agency.