Seattle Seahawks sign AFL QB R.J. Archer

With the Seattle Seahawks season just ending on February 1, they were behind in signing players to reserve/futures contract. One player in particular that they have signed comes from the Arena Football League in quarterback R.J. Archer. This season, in particular, the Seahawks have had players from the AFL on their roster.

In Super Bowl 49, we saw the emergence of wide receiver Chris Matthews, who had four catches for 105 yards and a touchdown. Matthews played for the Iowa Barnstormers in the AFL.

Then five days ago, the Seahawks signed wide receiver Douglas McNeil III to a three-year contract. McNeil III spent the 2014 season with the Portland Thunder and the last two months of the NFL season with Seattle.

But what kind of player will the Seahawks be getting in Archer? He has been in the AFL for four years but does has NFL experience as he spent time with the Detroit Lions in training camp in 2012 and in 2010 spent time on the Minnesota Vikings’ practice squad and active roster. Last season as a starting quarterback for Jacksonville Sharks, Archer threw for 4,661 yards, 92 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.

Finally, Seattle signed another AFL player today in wide receiver Kevin Smith, who is from the University of Washington. According to Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times, Smith spent time with the team in camp last year. He was recently signed by the Los Angeles Kiss in November.

[Photo: Gary McCullough/The Times-Union]
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