Amon-Ra St. Brown named one of the biggest draft steals of the decade
ESPN draft experts Matt Miller and Jordan Reid got together this week to rank the top 50 draft steals of the decade. The Detroit Lions actually showed on this list a few times. Both Darius Slay and Quandre Diggs made this list. Sadly they are no longer Lions because Bob Quinn and Matt Patricia decided […]
ESPN draft experts Matt Miller and Jordan Reid got together this week to rank the top 50 draft steals of the decade. The Detroit Lions actually showed on this list a few times.
Both Darius Slay and Quandre Diggs made this list. Sadly they are no longer Lions because Bob Quinn and Matt Patricia decided the team would be better without two of the better defensive backs in the league. This is still one of the oddest things I've seen the Lions do in my lifetime.
Those aren't the guys that really pop off this list for the Lions though. It's wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown. They list him as their 48th biggest draft steal of the decade. Here's what they had to say:
"St. Brown followed up a 912-yard rookie season by surpassing 1,000 receiving yards and becoming the No. 1 option in Detroit in Year 2. Not bad for a fourth-rounder. Working primarily out of the slot, the USC product is an electric pass-catcher who is a key building block for an ascending roster."
My pal Jordan Reid is not wrong. Earlier this week we put St. Brown on our list of the four pillars of this franchise. It's clear that everyone else seems to see it that way too.
St. Brown really has been amazing since the Lions took him in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL draft. He became the youngest Lions player in history to have back to back 1,000 yard seasons and he also set the franchise record for most consecutive games with at least eight catches. He also tied the NFL record with that same feat.
St. Brown has been as sure handed as a player could possibly be. I know why too. Some people bring their dogs with them everywhere they go. Some like to make sure they have sun screen at all times. For St. Brown, it's his juggs machine. The man is addicted to catching footballs. He catches 202 balls a day.
St. Brown made his first Pro Bowl last season and he probably has a bunch more in him in the future. It's been a great two years for him. Not bad for a guy who had 16 receivers drafted in front of him.
What a steal from Brad Holmes. The funny thing about it all was that he caught hell from the fan base because two days of the 2021 NFL draft had gone by and he hadn't drafted a receiver yet. The Lions needed one. Well, they were right to wait. Because aside from Jamar Chase, there hasn't been a better receiver from the 2021 NFL draft. What a steal for the Lions.
Featured image by Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
