Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown has receipts for the NFL teams that overlooked him and selected 16 wide receivers before him in the 2021 draft. Taken in the fourth round with the 112th overall pick, St. Brown has emerged as the Lions’ top wide receiver.
St. Brown took the league by storm as a rookie. But this season, he’s skyrocketed through the first two weeks. After torching the Washington Commanders on Sunday in the Lions’ 36-27 win, St. Brown took aim at the Commanders and their decision to draft Dyami Brown ahead of him.
“The draft is what it is… the Commanders got a guy before me over there, believe his name is Dyami Brown,” St. Brown said. “I don’t know how many catches he had. You guys can probably tell me that. Well, how many yards? Yeah, but I don’t forget things like that. You know I see him across the sidelines from where I’m standing during the game and every team, I’m gonna get every team hell.”
The Commanders selected Brown from North Carolina, 30 picks before St. Brown. Washington hoped Brown would slot in as a deep threat option to complement top wide receiver Terry McLaurin. However, Brown struggled through his rookie season with 12 catches for 165 yards in 15 games.
This year, the Commanders drafted Jahan Dotson in the first round. As Dotson has made an immediate impact next to McLaurin and Curtis Samuel, who returned from an injury-riddled 2021 season, Brown has slid down the depth chart.
Sunday’s game illustrated the difference in the two wideouts’ careers thus far. St. Brown shredded Washington’s defense with nine catches, 116 yards, and two touchdowns. He also ripped off a 58-yard run on a jet sweep.
Meanwhile, Brown played one offensive snap for Washington.
“I didn’t see him in the game much,” St. Brown added.
Hindsight is 20-20, but strictly based on the 2021 draft, the Commanders would like a do-over at wide receiver. But they’re not alone.
St. Brown has 107 catches, 1,092 and eight touchdowns in 19 games thus far in his career. Only Miami Dolphins’ Jaylen Waddle has more catches (119) among 2021 wide receivers, and only Cincinnati Bengals’ Ja’Marr Chase and Waddle have more receiving yards and touchdowns than St. Brown.
DeVonta Smith, Kadarius Toney, Rashod Bateman, Elijah Moore, Rondale Moore, D’Wayne Eskridge, Tutu Atwell, Terrace Marshall Jr., Josh Palmer, Amari Rodgers, Nico Collins, Anthony Schwartz and Dez Fitzpatrick also were drafted ahead of St. Brown.
It’s safe to say it’s several teams are regretting skipping over St. Brown’s name.
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