The Green Bay Packers have a history of uncovering hidden gems late in the NFL draft, but they missed out on a potential star in Amon-Ra St. Brown.
St. Brown, who was selected by the Detroit Lions in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft, turned out to be a stellar pick for the franchise. However, St. Brown recently revealed that he had hoped to land in Green Bay.
“When it reached Day 3, I was already frustrated,” St. Brown shared with ESPN’s Eric Woodyard. “I even told my brother [Equanimeous], ‘If there’s one team I don’t want to join, it’s the Lions. Please, I don’t want to join the Lions.’ [My brother] was with the Packers at the time, and I wanted to play with him.”
Instead of selecting St. Brown, the Packers opted for Amari Rodgers in the third round. Rodgers, a former Clemson receiver, did not garner much favor in Green Bay, recording eight receptions and seven fumbles during his tenure with the Packers.
Fans may ponder how circumstances would have differed with St. Brown on the roster instead of Rodgers.
Amon-Ra St. Brown’s Rise to Prominence
Although it took some time for St. Brown to hear his name called in the draft, he quickly made an impact upon entering the league.
St. Brown, a highly touted recruit from California, opted to play for the USC Trojans close to home. He made an immediate impact as a true freshman at USC, showcasing his talents on the field. By the time he departed for the NFL, he had amassed impressive statistics, totaling 178 receptions for 2,270 yards and 16 touchdowns across 30 games.
Despite his success at a prominent program and his solid physique, St. Brown’s draft stock dipped during the pre-draft evaluations. Concerns were raised about his 40-yard dash time of 4.61 seconds and his average agility drill performances.
However, once St. Brown entered the league, any doubts about his abilities quickly dissipated. He swiftly established himself as a standout player, earning Pro Bowl honors twice and a first-team All-Pro selection in 2023 within his first three seasons. In 49 games, he has already accumulated impressive stats, recording 315 receptions for 3,588 yards and 21 touchdowns.
The Lions recognized St. Brown’s contributions by awarding him a lucrative four-year, $120 million contract extension this offseason, securing his services for the foreseeable future. Despite being somewhat overlooked in the draft, St. Brown has emerged as one of the highest-paid receivers in the league.
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