The decision of the Steelers to claim via waivers the target of Mike Tomlin’s Thanksgiving night trip attempt from two years ago was the headline. The corresponding decision to dump a 2014 third-round pick drew far less attention.
Receiver Jacoby Jones is in, which means running back Dri Archer is out, only 20 regular-season games into an effort to make him into a jack-of-all-trades weapon who could give the offense an extra spark through raw speed.
Archer was pick 97 last year, taken six spots before Falcons running back Devonta Freeman. Some thought Archer would go even higher after running the 40-yard dash at the Scouting Combine in 4.26 seconds.
But Archer simply couldn’t make an impact at the next level. And the Steelers finally decided to take an aging return specialist over a youngster who wasn’t fulfilling his potential.
The next question becomes whether another team will take a flier on a guy who can fly, claiming the balance of his slotted rookie deal via waivers. While he’s likely not big enough to fill the needs of teams like the Cowboys or 49ers at tailback, Archer’s speed will undoubtedly lure someone to give Archer spot No. 53 on the roster -- at least for long enough to see if Archer can do something/anything to justify keeping him around.