Over the course of much of Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin’s tenure, he has not been shy about utilizing the 53rd or so roster spot on the team for a player who does not necessarily have a define role on offense, defense, or in the coverage or blocking aspects of special teams.
The most recent incarnation of such a player was Dri Archer, the team’s third-round draft pick during the 2014 NFL Draft, a 5’8”, 173-pound college running-back-slash-wide-receiver whose calling card was his elite, sub-4.3 speed. The team evidently became enamored with that aspect of his game and his potential as a return threat in spite of his lack of a defined offensive role at the professional level.