The topic of the Detroit Lions wide receiver corps is a hot one in the Motor City. After all, analysts from outlets like Pro Football Focus are expecting the Lions to field one of the worst positional units in entire the NFL this upcoming season.
Although the Lions’ wide receiver corps is certainly unproven, it’s also full of potential. And it’s a great opportunity for veterans and rookies alike to carve themselves out a meaningful role on a rebuilding team hoping to discover the league’s next superstar wideout.
Enter in Amon-Ra St. Brown. As the only drafted wide receiver by the Lions in April, the former USC Trojan is all but a lock to make the team’s final-53 man roster. But more than that, he likely represents Detroit’s biggest chance of fielding a legit rising star at the position.
Unlike free-agent veterans like Tyrell Williams and Breshad Perriman who already have a history in the NFL, St. Brown is an unknown quantity. Yes, we know he racked up 41 catches for 478 yards and seven touchdowns in just six games as a junior in 2020.
And the year before, St. Brown broke out at USC posting 77 receptions for 1,042 yards and seven total scores. That’s why the Lions drafted him in the fourth round back in April.
But coming off a college season where both players and scouts were hindered by a worldwide pandemic, this year’s draft class could hold more hidden gems and late-round stars than any other in league history. The question now in Detroit is: Is Amon-Ra St. Brown one of them?
With the Lions’ first preseason matchup approaching, we may find that answer out very soon. Here’s what Tim Twentyman wrote on DetroitLions.com recently about the importance of the rest of this month for the rookie wideout’s development and potential impact in his first year.
“The next three weeks are going to be key for St. Brown to show just how much impact he can have in the preseason and how much trust he builds with coaches. The next three weeks will go a long way in determining how big a role St. Brown can play in the Lions’ offense early in the regular season.”
Amon-Ra St. Brown is already making a name for himself at training camp. Although the headlines have been more about his heated one-on-one battles with cornerback Jeff Okudah, the Detroit Lions’ first-round selection in 2020. The rookie wideout will have a chance to show off his skills against someone other than Okudah in his preseason debut this Friday against the Buffalo Bills.