2023 Stat Prediction for Amon-Ra St. Brown
Amon-Ra St. Brown emerged as one of the best wide receivers in the NFL in 2022.
For starters, the 2021 fourth-round pick (No. 112 overall) compiled his first career 100-plus catch (106) and 1,000-yard receiving (1,161) campaign a season ago, and earned a trip to the Pro Bowl for his efforts. He also caught six touchdown passes from Detroit Lions signal-caller Jared Goff.
It marked St. Brown's second consecutive season of at least 90 catches, 900-plus receiving yards and five-or-more touchdown receptions.
Goff and St. Brown have established a tremendous rapport, helping St. Brown grow into the veteran quarterback's go-to target in Detroit's passing game.
Goff believes the slot receiver is in for a "huge year" in 2023, and he texted Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson as much prior to the start of training camp.
Just like Goff, Johnson is ultra confident in the USC product's abilities.
"He (St. Brown) doesn't need any more chips on his shoulder. Don't need to motivate him too much. ... 'Saint' has attacked this offseason probably like he's attacked every offseason and the experience he has under his belt, two years in the NFL, going into the second year in this offense," Johnson expressed to reporters during the first week of Lions training camp. "He has a great understanding of where he needs to be, when that ball's gonna be there. Hopefully, we can take that into the season."
There's still room for growth for St. Brown, too.
Detroit receivers coach Antwaan Randle El, for one, believes that St. Brown – who has recorded the eighth-most catches in the NFL (196) over the last two seasons – needs to improve upon his route-running ability and his adeptness at gaining yards after the catch.
Last season, the California native averaged 4.9 yards after the catch.
"A lot of it for him is the YAC, (and) reading those coverages over and over again," Randle El said of St. Brown this offseason. "And, he got so much better at it last year, and you saw that jump. So now, it’s like, 'All right, I kind of got it down, how can I perfect it over and over again, as it relates to where I need to be, when I need to be there.' And, that’s working back and forth with Goff and knowing the coverages and seeing it."
Headed into the upcoming season, fans and pundits alike are wondering: What will the third-year pro do to build off his highly impressive 2022 campaign?
At this present juncture, I'm predicting that St. Brown hauls in 103 passes from Goff, and amasses 1,154 receiving yards and six touchdown receptions in 2023.
