Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown reads bad pre-draft evaluations (video)

It’s clear Amon-Ra St. Brown will go down as a big miss for plenty of teams in the 2021 NFL Draft, and as part of a cool series he read some of his pre-draft evaluations.

Just two years into his career, Amon-Ra St. Brown has been a huge draft steal for the Detroit Lions. As the 112th overall pick (fourth round), he was the 17th wide receiver taken in the 2021 draft. And, as we know, he can name and is tracking all 16 wide receivers who were taken before him.

Even the Lions could say, in hindsight, they should have drafted St. Brown sooner than they did. But as productive as he was at USC (60 or more catches in both normal, non-COVID seasons), there were legitimate question marks about him (size, pure speed, is he merely a slot receiver?, etc.). He was probably at best a Day 2 pick, and the fall to early Day 3 was certainly within the range of possible outcomes.

Amon-Ra. St. Brown reads bad pre-draft evaluations (video)

The NFL has done a cool series called “Expert Evaluations”, where players read pre-draft evaluations written about them. Names are not attached to the evaluations, and St. Brown was an easy candidate to take part.

You can view the full video here. Here are the specific notes, with St. Brown’s brief reactions.

1.) Unlikely to gain consistent vertical separation

St. Brown: It’s an interesting take from from “Joe The Expert”.

2.) Very little grit in his run blocking

St. Brown: This one’s crazy. I’ll let my tape do the talking on that one.

3.) Has above average tracking talent and body control to improve his chances for success. 

St. Brown: I like that. Whoever wrote that, good job.

4.) Very average for quickness. Not just average, very average foot quickness. Has had issues securing catchable throws underneath. 

St. Brown: Maybe you should ask Jared (Goff) about that.

St. Brown had a message to sum up the reading of his pre-draft evaluations.

"Fact is, no matter what anyone says or what happens to you during draft night, you control your own destiny,” said St. Brown. “So enjoy it. Let it feed you. And good luck.”"

St. Brown has certainly let being doubted and falling in the draft feed him. It’s an easy and lingering lesson for others who may fall further than they should, in this or any draft.