Making the final roster as an undrafted rookie is a tall task but David Perales is used to facing uphill battles during his football career. The Pittsburgh Steelers signed Perales as a priority free agent following the 2023 NFL Draft after the Fresno State product went undrafted.
About thirty minutes before the draft concluded, Perales knew that Pittsburgh was the destination that he would end up at and stated that he could not have landed in a better position.
“My agent figured out a spot for me,” explained Perales. “This is the perfect location for me and my style of football. There would not have been a better place for me to learn and get better. … The pass-rushing and those guys, the way they get off of the ball. It will help my game in general.”
Perales started his collegiate career in junior college and marched his way up the college football divisions until he reached the Division I level in 2020 after transferring to Fresno State. Perales started his collegiate career at Merced Junior College before moving to the FCS level at Sacramento State and finally, the Division I level at Fresno State.
“I’ve always been an underdog, coming out of high school with no offers, went to junior college, [Sacramento] State, and the Fresno State,” Perales said. “A lot of adversity but I am used to it so nothing changed, just come out here and try to do my best.”
Once he got to Fresno State, Perales’ level of play skyrocketed and he credited his success along the journey to the competition he faced along his journey. He racked up 23 sacks and 38 tackles for loss across his final two seasons at Fresno State.
“You just to compete with yourself,” Perales said. “At the end of the day, that is where you are going every day. You’re not competing with nobody if you got to compete with yourself. Just become a better player every day, soak in everything, no matter what position you are in, you just got to keep grinding.”
With the emergence of fellow rookie edge rusher Nick Herbig, the chances of Perales making the final roster are slim. He will have to beat out Herbig or Quincy Roche throughout the preseason if he wants a chance to land on the 53-man but more likely than not, he is fighting for a spot on the team’s practice squad in 2023.
40 • David Perales, Outside Linebacker, Fresno State
6-foot-2, 265 pounds, 24 years old, 1st Season
Acquired: The Steelers signed Perales as a priority free agent on April 29, 2023, after the Fresno State product went undrafted in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Last season: In 2022, Perales took advantage of the extra year of eligibility given by the NCAA due to the shortened COVID season. As a sixth-year senior, Perales played in all 14 games for the Bulldogs and totaled 47 combined tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles.
His best game of last season came against San Jose State when he recorded a career-high five tackles for loss and four sacks in that single game.
Following the season, Perales earned first-team All-Mountain West honors for his stellar play. His 16 tackles for loss were the most in a season by a Bulldog since 2015. His 11.5 sacks ranked seventh in the entirety of the FBS.
College: The 24-year-old rookie started his collegiate career all of the way back in 2017 at Merced Junior College in California. As a freshman, Perales played in 11 games for Merced and recorded 64 total tackles and 14 sacks. Following the season, Perales earned All-Conference honors.
Prior to the 2018 season, Perales transferred to the FCS program, Sacramento State. In his lone season with the team, Perales appeared in 10 games and totaled 23 total tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks.
In 2019, Perales transferred to the Division I level of college football when he committed to Fresno State. Perales sat out the entire 2019 season due to the NCAA transfer rules and did not see the field until the 2020 season.
As a redshirt junior, Perales burst onto the scene for the Bulldogs as he earned second-team All-Mountain West honors following the season. In 2020, Perales played in all six games for Fresno State during the COVID-shortened season. He tallied 28 combined tackles, nine tackles for loss, four sacks, and a career-high four forced fumbles. His four forced fumbles ranked third in the nation and first in the Mountain West.
Perales upped his game in 2021 as he finished the season with a whooping 13.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks for the Bulldogs. In 13 appearances, Perales tacked on 45 total tackles and three forced fumbles. Following the season, Perales was named to the second-team All-Mountain West for the second season in a row. Perales took advantage of the blanket waiver given by the NCAA due to COVID to return to school for a sixth collegiate season.
In his Fresno State career, Perales racked up 23 sacks, 38 tackles for loss, and nine forced fumbles across his three seasons.
| Year | School | GP | Tackles | TFLs | Sacks | FFs |
| 2017 | Merced Junior College | 11 | 64 | – | 14.0 | – |
| 2018 | Sacramento State | 10 | 23 | 7.5 | 2.5 | – |
| 2019 | Fresno State | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 |
| 2020 | Fresno State | 6 | 28 | 9.0 | 4.0 | 4 |
| 2021 | Fresno State | 13 | 45 | 13.5 | 7.0 | 3 |
| 2022 | Fresno State | 14 | 47 | 16.0 | 11.5 | 2 |
Salary cap and future: Perales signed a three-year undrafted free agent contract with the Steelers following the 2023 NFL Draft. If he makes the final roster, Perales will cost $755,000 against the team’s 2023 cap space.
Of his $755,000 cap hit, only $5,000 is guaranteed through bonus money which means the Steelers can release him without incurring much dead money this season. If he does play out his rookie contract, Perales will become a restricted free agent following the 2026 season.
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