Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown continues to use the 2021 NFL Draft as motivation. Featured on HBO's "Hard Knocks" last year, St. Brown's Lions surprised many with a strong season, even disrupting the Green Bay Packers' playoff hopes. A key moment in the series was St. Brown recounting the 16 wide receivers drafted ahead of him. Now a Pro Bowler after a stellar 1,161-yard, 106-reception season, he hasn't forgotten those names.
During a recent NFL Network appearance, St. Brown confirmed he still reviews the list daily. It's part of his pre-practice ritual, a constant reminder fueling his drive. He meticulously maintains a notebook outlining his yearly goals, and just below, the names of those 16 receivers and their college affiliations. This list, he admits, is something he'll never forget.
The list includes prominent receivers like Ja'Marr Chase of the Bengals and Jaylen Waddle of the Dolphins, along with players who have since changed teams, such as Elijah Moore (now with the Browns) and Amari Rodgers (formerly with the Packers, then Texans).
St. Brown's 196 receptions in his first two seasons tie him with Justin Jefferson and Michael Thomas for the most in NFL history over that span. With the Lions' recent additions of first-round pick Jahmyr Gibbs and second-round pick Sam LaPorta, St. Brown is optimistic about the team's offensive potential. He's particularly excited about Gibbs' explosiveness and LaPorta's performance during OTAs.
Coming off a season where their offense ranked fifth in scoring, the Lions are gearing up for their season opener against the reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs on September 7th at Arrowhead Stadium.
