(Photo: ESPN)
The Detroit Lions were the feel-good story of the 2023-24 NFL season. After years of struggling, finishing in last place in the NFC North, or losing games memorably, they were discussed in a brighter light last year as they won the NFC North for the first time since all divisions underwent realignment and the last time they won their division, it was called the NFC Central. They hosted two playoff games at Ford Field for the first time and won both along with playing in the NFC Championship game and being a game away from the Super Bowl. They have a lot to be proud of if you ask me. The Lions have a young core of players and will continue to build up that roster. One of those players is a Wide Receiver named Amon-Ra St. Brown. He was drafted by Detroit in the 4th round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Today, the young receiver agreed to a contract extension. A four-year deal worth $120 million and $77 million in guaranteed money.
He’s one of the more underrated receivers playing the game today I feel. For years, the Lions had been looking for that one guy to replace Calvin Johnson, but let’s admit that you will never be able to replace a Hall of Famer at all. Amon-Ra has everything you want in a receiver. He’s smart, gritty, has great hands, runs his routes smoothly, yet consistently and he’s the top target for Jared Goff. This is one of those smaller receivers that plays bigger than he appears. He’s the mix of Hines Ward with some Anquan Boldin and I also see a little bit of Steve Smith Sr. in his game as well. What I enjoy about Amon-Ra’s game is how he moves downhill once he has the football in his hands. I’ve been on record saying that as a receiver, I couldn’t care less about you catching the ball because it’s all about what you do when the football is in your hands, and watching number 14 in Detroit, he becomes a Running Back with the ball in his hands and is tough to bring down in the open field. Amon-Ra has no issue getting his jersey dirty and making the tough, contested catches. He could have coverage plastered all over him and will find a way to get the ball. I’ve seen him run the deep post routes, he runs intermediate routes and he’s lethal on screen passes because he has that speed to burst up the field after the catch. The Lions’ offense finds many ways to get him the ball and I’ve seen Amon-Ra run jet sweeps which shows me he doesn’t mind showing the versatility.
He’s a young receiver who continues to climb the ladder every year. Amon-Ra was a key factor for a team that won the division and was a game away from representing the NFC in the Super Bowl. This is everything you could ask for from a number one receiver. He’s reliable, consistent, and a hard worker and he wants the ball when it matters most which is on third down, in the red zone, and the crucial moments of the game. In 2022, Amon-Ra became the third player in NFL history to score a touchdown in six consecutive games at the age of 22 or younger. The first two were Randy Moss and Rob Gronkowski. A Hall of Fame Wide Receiver and a future Hall of Fame Tight End. That’s an impressive group to be mentioned with. I’m happy for this kid and the Lions were able to lock him in for years.
