2014 NFL Draft: Grading each and every Pittsburgh Steelers draft picks
By Matt Shetler
Round 3, Pick 97: Dri Archer, RB, Kent State
Sept 8, 2012; Lexington, KY, USA; Kent State Golden Flashes running back Dri Archer (1) runs the ball against the Kentucky Wildcats at Commonwealth Stadium. Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports
Given some other needs, the Archer selection was a head scratcher at No. 97 as it looks like a reach as many had a fifth-round tag on the Kent State product.
I love his speed.
Archer is small at 5’8” but has blazing speed.
He rushed for 1,429 yards and scored 16 touchdowns on the ground during his junior season and added four more scores through the air.
Last season he played in 10 games and rushed for 527 yards. Archer injured his left ankle during the first series of the ’13 season and was hampered for much of September.
Archer averaged an insane 7.2 yards per carry during his four seasons at Kent State. Despite making just 21 collegiate starts, he finished his Kent State career ranked among the school’s all-time leaders with 4,980 all-purpose yards and 40 touchdowns (24 rushing, 12 receiving, four kickoff returns).
However it is still a major reach.
Sure he is a weapon, but the Steelers have tried the scat back approach before (think Chris Rainey), but Archer is still a guy who will barely see the field as the best case scenario is that he sees the field for just a handful of plays per game in 2014.
I like him as a player but I don’t like the value in the third round.
Grade: C-