2021 NFL Draft: Five under-the-radar rookies for the 2021 season
By Kyle Edmond
Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, DET
The Detroit Lions lost their best offensive weapon yet again after seeing Kenny Golladay flee to the New York Giants this past offseason. While the Lions made an effort to add receivers through free agency with Tyrell Williams, Breshad Perriman, Kalif Raymond, and Damion Ratley they still lacked a true No. 1 wide receiver heading into the 2021 NFL Draft.
With Ja’Marr Chase and Jaylen Waddle off the board at No. 7, the Lions bolstered the offensive line with Penei Sewell, pushing the wide receiver need to later in the draft. It wasn’t until the fourth round that Detroit took a wide receiver, but they nailed the pick with Amon-Ra St. Brown.
At about 5-foot-11, 200 pounds St. Brown will have the opportunity to step up in Detroit and potentially become the team’s top pass catcher. He had a bit of a down season in 2020 totaling just 478 yards on 41 catches, but he still found the end zone seven times. As for his 2019 campaign, he went for over 1,000 yards on 77 catches for six touchdowns.
For St. Brown, the opportunity is the most intriguing aspect of his outlook in 2021. The wide receiver position in Detroit is pretty much a wide-open race. If he can impress early, his role should only grow from there.