Finding Colts: Scouting USC WR Amon-Ra St. Brown
Welcome to Finding Colts, our annual prospect-by-prospect series deep-diving on the coming NFL draft class. The scouting continues with USC wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, a prospect who fits a big Indianapolis Colts' roster need.
Measurables
- Height: 6-foot-1
- Weight: 195 pounds
Stats
Sports-Reference.com
Pros
- Elite hand-eye coordination with great ball-tracking ability to attack every level of the field
- Tough as nails
- Has good but not great athleticism
- Runs good routes with an understanding of the nuances
- Reliable hands especially in contested catch situations
- Extra juice to get instant separation underneath or catch up to deep shots
- Enough after-the-catch ability to be a threat on quicker passes
- Really good footwork off the line that could help with press coverage
- Plenty of big-play potential
- Versatility to work in the slot, on the boundary, and help on special teams
- Very high football IQ with a great understanding of situations and how to help the QB
- Willing to take punishment over the middle of the field to help his team
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Cons
- Has 13 drops over three years, so he isn’t immune
- Limited exposure to press coverage to be confident in his ability to get through it
- When he has good space, he sometimes doesn’t 'look' the ball in, focusing on what to do after the catch
- Can get punished by physical corners through his routes
- Some wasted movement during his routes and after the catch
- Willingness as a blocker can be hit or miss
Overview
St. Brown is a really interesting prospect because he seems like a safe pick, for the most part. It would be nice to see cleaner hands from him, but he is tough and can work the middle, as well as offer up some deep playability.
The physical play he brings needs to be more consistent through his routes and he's got to figure out how not to get bullied as often. He could fit in nicely as a No. 3 receiver for a team with the inside/outside versatility.
Fit with Colts
In terms of scheme, St. Brown would fit in well with the Colts. He would give Indy another weapon that could be used to try and correct the ship with Carson Wentz. St. Bown's hands could be problematic in the eyes of the Colts, as drops can affect the quarterback and his confidence in the receivers.
St. Brown wouldn't be a terrible option for the Colts by any means, but in the third round (where he should go), there should be plenty of better options that fit the Colts that are more enticing.
Grade: Round 3
Where he Goes: Round 3
Follow Erick on Twitter @ErickTrickel.
