First off, Dri Archer was a RB who returned KO and punts for Pitt. WRs do not have 1400 rushing yards in their college junior season.
Reevaluating the Pittsburgh Steelers 2014 draft class
Secondly, Edelman was a QB. It took him 4 years to pay dividends at WR for NE.He bounced around at other positions before settling at WR. The premise for this post is that Brady does not have 4 year to develop a WR. Too much time has been wasted already. The Pats need drafted WRs who can step in and play day 1.
STEELERS -------------------------------------PATRIOTS
2019 Dionte Johnson 3 #66.....................K Harry 1 #32
2018 James Washington 2 # 60................Braxton Berrios 6 #210
2017 JuJu Smith 2 #62..............................None
2016 Demarcus Ayers 7 #229...................Malcolm Mitchell 4 #112 Devin Lucien 7 #225
2015 Sammie Coates 3 #87......................None
2014 Martavius Bryant 4 #118.................Jeremy Gallon 7 #244
2013 Markus Wheaton 3 #79...................Aaron Dobson 2 #59 Josh Boyce 4 #102
2012 Tony Clemons 7 #231......................Jeremy Ebert 7 #235
2011 None..................................................None
The subtotal at this juncture is
Pitt drafted 8 WRs that cost 2 - 2nd, 3 - 3rd, 1 - 4th, 2 -7th.
NE drafted 8 WRs that cost 1 - 1st, 1 - 2nd, 2 - 4th, 1 - 6th, 3 - 7th
2010 Emanuel Sanders 3 #82..................................Taylor Price 3 #90
2010 Antonio Brown 6 #195
2009 Mike Wallace 3 #84........................................Brandon Tate 3 #83
2008 Limas Sweed 2 #53.........................................Mathew Slater 5 #153
2007 Dallas Baker 7 #227........................................None
2006 Santonio Holmes 1 #25..................................Chad Jackson 2 #36
2005 Fred Gibson 4 #131........................................None
2004 None...............................................................PK Sam 5 #233
2003 None...............................................................Bethel Johnson 2 #45
2002 Antwaan Randle 2 #62...................................Deon Branch 2 #65 David Givens 7 #244
2001 Chris Taylor 7 #218.........................................None
2000 Plaxico Burress 1 #8.......................................None
2000 Danny Farmer 4 #103
The subtotal here is
Pitt drafted 11 WRs at a cost of 2 - 1st, 2 - 2nd, 2 - 3rd, 2 - 4th, 1 - 6th, 2 - 7th.
NE drafted 9 WRs at a cost of 3 - 2nd, 2 - 3rd, 2 - 5th, 1 - 7th
In 20 years Pitt has drafted 19 WRs and NE has drafted 17 WRs. Not the variance that you claim. Pitt has spent higher draft capital 3 - 1sts and 3 - 2nds, but also has had more to show for it - Holmes, Burress, JuJu and Randle.
NE has spent high draft capital too 1 - 1st, 4 - 2nds. Deon Branch without a doubt was a great pick.