Editor’s note: From now until the first practice of training camp at Saint Vincent College, TribLive is running through the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 90-man roster, looking at each player and assessing his outlook for the 2024 season. The breakdown will run in alphabetical order with at least two players each day between June 14 and July 25. Contract data courtesy spotrac.com.
LB David Perales
Experience/age: First year/25
Contract status: $795,000 cap hit if he makes the team
The past: An undrafted free agent from Fresno State, the 6-foot-3, 255-pound Perales spent part of last season on the Steelers practice squad after not making the team in training camp. He got a long look in the preseason, playing 98 snaps in the first two games.
Perales was waived twice but brought back to the practice squad each time, and he re-signed with the Steelers after the season.
Perales worked on the scout team last year at outside linebacker and often mimicked the opposing team’s top pass rusher in practice. In college, he had a knack for rushing the quarterback. He finished his three-year career at Fresno State with 119 tackles, including 38 for loss, 23 sacks, six pass breakups, nine forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and one interception.
In his final college season in 2022, Perales ranked seventh in the nation with 11½ sacks. Perales began his college journey at Merced Junior College and spent a year at Sacramento State before moving on to Fresno State.
Always great to talk with Merced native and former @FresnoStateFB Bulldog @David99Perales
Bulldog Breakdown: 1-on-1 with Steelers LB David Perales https://t.co/MLnmuEa4A1
— Alec Nolan (@AlecABC30) June 26, 2024
2024 outlook: Perales will enter training camp competing for the No. 4 spot at outside linebacker behind starters T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith and second-year pro Nick Herbig.
The Steelers were intrigued enough by Perales to bring him back two times last season after waiving him. And he opened enough eyes to warrant another contract from the team. Perales will have to excel on special teams if he hopes to earn a roster spot, and he spent offseason workouts on Danny Smith’s coverage units.
Perales’ path toward a roster spot isn’t an easy one, and he may need to spend more time on the practice squad.
Joe Rutter is a TribLive reporter who has covered the Pittsburgh Steelers since the 2016 season. A graduate of Greensburg Salem High School and Point Park, he is in his fifth decade covering sports for the Trib. He can be reached at jrutter@triblive.com.