Last year, former Fresno State pass rusher David Perales came in as one of the most accomplished undrafted free agents on the Steelers roster.
In his senior year with the Bulldogs in 2022, Perales was named first-team All-Mountain West and led his team in practically every defensive category, including 11.5 sacks and 16 tackles for loss. Perales participated in all three preseason games last year, and while not collecting any sacks, he impressed with his pass-rushing abilities. Perales was assigned to the organization's practice squad, where he was released twice until signing a reserve/future contract with the team in January.
With 2023 behind him, Perales has likely acquired enough experience to acclimate to the speed of the game and impress the coaches once training camp begins. Given that the organization did not resign veteran edge rusher Markus Golden, Perales may have an opportunity to provide depth at the position.
For Perales, the keys to making the roster are his general health and his ability to transform his chances into big plays if given the chance during preseason games. The other avenue is on special teams, as the team in general values position flexibility.
In three preseason games last year, Perales finished with four total tackles, two quarterback pressures, and one quarterback hit.
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