PITTSBURGH— The Pittsburgh Steelers are famous for finding diamonds in the rough at wide receiver, and a new face is trying to become the latest success story.
A.T. Perry , signed to a reserve/future contract in January, enters training camp as a classic roster-bubble wildcard. The 26-year-old pass-catcher is trying to burst through a crowded depth chart and secure a spot in a receiving corps that has lacked proven depth.
At 6-foot-5 and 205 pounds, Perry brings a massive frame that the Steelers' offense could desperately use in the red zone. He originally flashed that potential as a rookie with the New Orleans Saints in 2023, turning just 12 receptions into 246 yards and four touchdowns. However, after spending last season buried on the Denver Broncos ' practice squad following a summer injury, Perry is essentially resetting his career in the Steel City.
The path to the 53-man roster will not be easy. Beyond star target DK Metcalf and new addition Michael Pittman , the lower half of the wide receiver depth chart is a wide-open battleground. Perry's size gives him a distinct advantage over some of the smaller speedsters on the 90-man roster, but he will need to prove he can contribute on special teams to truly solidify his case.
If Perry can recapture his rookie-year efficiency and stay healthy through the preseason, his vertical radius might make him too valuable to cut. In Pittsburgh, the opportunity is there for the taking.
Acquired:The Steelers brought Perry in on a reserve/future contract in late January to inject some size and upside into the wide receiver room. Prior to joining the Steelers, Perry spent the 2024 and 2025 seasons on the Broncos ' practice squad, which followed a promising 2023 rookie campaign with the New Orleans Saints, who originally selected him in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Last Year:The Broncos placed Perry on the active/PUP list to open training camp last July due to an undisclosed injury. Prior to being waived during final roster cuts in late August, Perry missed the first two preseason games and only logged 10 offensive snaps in the exhibition finale, which ultimately led to him spending the entire 2025 season on the Broncos' practice squad.
Pro Career:Perry has appeared in 10 career games over his three NFL seasons, making three starts during his 2023 rookie year in New Orleans. He has caught 12 passes for 246 yards, averaging an explosive 20.5 yards per reception, while finding the end zone four times. After flashing that high-upside vertical threat capability with the Saints, Perry spent the 2024 and 2025 seasons on the Broncos' practice squad without seeing any regular-season game action.
New Orleans Saints Receiver A.T. Perry Catches Pass Against Atlanta Falcons – Michael C. Herbert/New Orleans Saints
| Year |
Team |
Pos |
GP |
GS |
Rec |
Yds |
TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 |
Saints |
WR |
10 |
3 |
12 |
246 |
4 |
WINSTON-SALEM, NC – SEPTEMBER 24: A.T. Perry (9) of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons stiff arms Nate Wiggins (20) of the Clemson Tigers during a football game between the Wake Forest Demon Deacons and the Clemson Tigers on September 24, 2022, at Truist Field in Winston-Salem, NC. (Photo by David Jensen/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)David Jensen/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Perry played college football at Wake Forest , where he appeared in 43 games and made 33 starts over his four-year career with the Demon Deacons. He totaled 171 career receptions for 2,662 yards and a program-record 28 touchdowns, ranking third in school history for receiving yards. A two-time First-Team All-ACC selection, Perry became the first player in program history to post multiple 1,000-yard receiving seasons, eclipsing the milestone in both 2021 and 2022.
You can watch his dynamic playmaking ability in action through the A.T. Perry 2022 Regular Season Highlights , which showcases the vertical threat and red-zone production that allowed him to dominate the ACC.
| Year |
Team |
Pos |
GP |
Rec |
Yds |
TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 |
Wake |
WR |
13 |
81 |
1096 |
11 |
| 2021 |
Wake |
WR |
14 |
71 |
1293 |
15 |
| 2020 |
Wake |
WR |
7 |
15 |
211 |
1 |
| 2019 |
Wake |
WR |
9 |
4 |
62 |
1 |
Measured at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine: 6-foot-3.5, 198 pounds; 4.47-second 40-yard dash, 1.59-second 10-yard split; 35-inch vertical, 11-foot-1 broad jump
A.T. Perry had a 9.62 Relative Athletic Score (RAS) out of 10.
The Steelers signed Perry to a reserve/future contract on January 29 to lock him in for the 2026 offseason program and upcoming training camp. Terms of the contract were not publicly disclosed, but the low-risk future deal gives the Steelers an affordable, high-upside option to evaluate for the 90-man roster without heavily impacting their salary cap.
Perry left a definitive mark on the Wake Forest record books during his collegiate career. He holds the school record for career receiving touchdowns with 28, a total that also ties him for seventh all-time in ACC history. The foundation for that record was laid during his breakout 2021 season, when he caught a school-record 15 touchdowns—the third-highest single-season total by any ACC receiver since 1997.
Alan Saunders provided reporting from Pittsburgh
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : Can A.T. Perry Finally Break Through with Steelers?
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