The Rise and Potential of Detroit Lions Wide Receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown

The Rise of Amon-Ra St. Brown

Wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown burst onto the NFL scene in 2021 with the Detroit Lions. As a rookie, St. Brown quickly established himself as a reliable and productive target for quarterback Jared Goff. With his stellar first year, St. Brown has Lions fans excited about the future and believing he can develop into a top receiving threat in the league.

Exceeding Expectations as a Rookie

The Lions selected St. Brown in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL draft out of USC. Despite his talent, St. Brown was not expected to take on a major role right away in his rookie campaign. However, injuries to receivers like Tyrell Williams gave St. Brown opportunities early on to showcase his abilities.

He took full advantage, putting up 90 catches for 912 yards and 5 touchdowns over his 17 games in 2021. His sure hands and crisp routes quickly made him one of Goff’s most reliable targets. St. Brown recorded eight or more receptions in six different games, establishing himself as a receiver that can impact the game every week.

Rapport with Jared Goff

St. Brown formed an excellent connection with Lions quarterback Jared Goff in their first season together. Over the last six games of the year, St. Brown compiled 51 receptions as he and Goff found their rhythm in the offense. Their timing and feel for each other helped St. Brown post huge stat lines down the stretch.

In Week 13, St. Brown broke the Lions franchise record for receptions in a game with 11, totaling 109 yards. The next week he followed that up with another eight catches. It was a glimpse of what Lions fans hope will become one of the top young quarterback-receiver duos in football.

What the Future Holds

St. Brown laid an excellent foundation in 2021 to build upon moving forward. If he can duplicate or exceed his rookie year production going forward, St. Brown has all the makings of a future Pro Bowl receiver.

With Jared Goff expected to start again at quarterback for the Lions in 2022, St. Brown should be able to avoid the learning curve many receivers face when dealing with a quarterback change early in their careers. The continuity between the two will only help strengthen their chemistry.

Potential for a Breakout 2023

While St. Brown found much success in his rookie campaign, many NFL analysts believe he could be in store for a true breakout year in 2023. As he becomes more accustomed to the speed and physicality of the NFL, his natural playmaking instincts and route running ability could allow him to emerge as one of the better receivers in the NFC.

Perfect Scheme Fit

St. Brown possesses an excellent skillset for the Lions offensive system. His ability to line up both on the outside and in the slot makes him a versatile weapon in coordinator Ben Johnson's scheme. St. Brown has the quickness to win routes from the slot position and the size and catch radius to threaten defenses downfield from an outside alignment.

This versatility and ability to deploy St. Brown in multiple alignments helps keep defenses off balance. As Johnson adds more wrinkles to the offense in 2023, expect St. Brown to benefit greatly and post big numbers. His football intelligence will allow him to digest and master any new roles the coaching staff asks of him as well.

Emerging Star Duo With Hockenson

Alongside St. Brown, tight end TJ Hockenson has also emerged as a top receiving option for Jared Goff. Hockenson earned Pro Bowl honors in 2020 before his 2021 season was cut short due to injury after just four games.

With both Hockenson and St. Brown entering 2023 still on their rookie deals, the Lions could have one of the best and most cost-effective pass catching duos in football. Few defenses will have the depth and talent at linebacker and in the secondary to match up with both stars at once without compromising elsewhere.

The Bottom Line on St. Brown

In just one NFL season, Amon-Ra St. Brown has already become a fan favorite in Detroit and established himself as a building block for the Lions offense moving forward. His rookie year production ranks with some of the best in Lions history.

Now, paired with Jared Goff and TJ Hockenson, St. Brown looks primed to take another leap and develop into the Lions first Pro Bowl receiver since Calvin Johnson. 2023 could be the year St. Brown announces himself as one of the top young receivers in all of football.

FAQs

How many receiving yards and touchdowns did Amon-Ra St. Brown have his rookie season?

In 17 games in 2021, St. Brown totaled 912 receiving yards and 5 touchdown receptions.

What was St. Brown's best single game performance as a rookie?

St. Brown had 11 catches for 109 yards in Week 13 against the Vikings, setting a new Lions' franchise record for receptions in a game.

Does St. Brown typically line up in the slot or out wide?

One of St. Brown's biggest strengths is his versatility. He has the ability to effectively line up both in the slot and out wide as an outside receiver.

Who are St. Brown's top targets in the Lions passing game?

St. Brown developed excellent chemistry as a rookie with Lions' quarterback Jared Goff. Tight end T.J. Hockenson is another top receiving option that he forms a nice duo with in the offense.