NFL Draft 2021: Detroit Lions select WR, LB with consecutive Day 3 picks
After focusing on defense during Day 2 of the 2021 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions finally attacked their offensive playmaking hole on Day 3. Right after that, they moved up to go back to the defensive side of the ball.
The Lions selected USC receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown with their fifth selection, taking him 112th overall in round four. The junior stands at 5-foot-11 and weighs in at 197 pounds and should have a chance to see some early snaps in the Lions’ overhauled receiving corps.
St. Brown was an honorable mention All-Pac-12 selection in his second season with the Trojans, when he racked up over 1,000 receiving yards and added six touchdowns. He served as a team captain and also earned first-team all-conference honors in 2020.
The southern California native comes from a talented athletic family. His brothers are also wide receivers, Equanimeous for the Green Bay Packers and Osiris for Stanford University.
Directly after, the Lions traded up to pick No. 113 and selected Purdue linebacker Derrick Barnes. They gave the 153rd overall pick and a 2022 fourth-rounder to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for number 113 and pick No. 257 in this year’s draft.
Barnes is a stout 6-feet-tall and 238 pounds, and should also have a shot to compete for playing time in one of the Lions’ thinnest units. The former running back grabbed second-team All-Big Ten notice in 2020. He also notched 7.5 sacks in 2019 for the Boilermakers.
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Barring any other trades, the Lions have one more selection in the 2021 draft. They are next up late in the day with the newly acquired 257th overall pick in the seventh round, with no picks in either the sixth round.