Selected in the fourth round (112th overall) of the 2021 NFL Draft out of USC, Amon-Ra St. Brown arrived in Detroit carrying a permanent chip on his shoulder, famously memorizing the names of all 16 receivers drafted before him. That relentless drive and obsession with proving his doubters wrong paid off immediately. St. Brown rapidly established himself as the ultimate slot disrupter and contested-catch specialist, delivering a 90-reception, 912-yard rookie campaign that signaled the birth of an elite playmaker in Motown.

Operating as Jared Goff’s primary security blanket and tactical focal point, St. Brown evolved into one of the most complete, fearless wideouts in professional football. Known for his brutal, physical blocking in the run game, razor-sharp route precision, and uncanny hands in traffic, "The Sun God" posted four consecutive 1,000-yard receiving campaigns from 2022 through 2025. His rare ability to manufacture yards after the catch turned simple intermediate routes into explosive downfield gains.

The apex of his career to date arrived during his extraordinary 2023 and 2024 campaigns, establishing him as an undisputed First-Team AP All-Pro selection in both years. In 2023, he hauled in 119 receptions for 1,515 yards and 10 touchdowns, powering the Lions to their first division title in three decades. He backed that up with a staggering 2024 performance, catching 115 passes for 1,263 yards and a career-high 12 touchdowns. Across that two-year peak, St. Brown stood as the single most dependable target in the NFC, converting third downs at an unprecedented rate.

St. Brown kept his foot on the gas throughout the 2025 season, catching 108 passes for 1,320 yards and 11 touchdowns to log his third straight 100-reception year. By becoming the fastest receiver in franchise history to eclipse 400 career receptions and 5,000 career receiving yards, he solidified his standing alongside Calvin Johnson and Herman Moore among Detroit's wide receiver royalty, cementing his place as the undisputed emotional engine of the locker room.

Heading into the 2026 season, St. Brown stands as the cultural heart and primary engine of a Lions offense poised for another championship run. At just 26 years old, his rare combination of interior toughness, pre-snap intelligence, and obsessive work ethic makes him virtually impossible for opposing secondary schemes to neutralize. With three Pro Bowl nods and two First-Team AP All-Pro selections already under his belt, St. Brown enters the 2026 campaign aiming to rewrite every remaining franchise receiving mark.

Arriving in Detroit in 2021 via the blockbuster trade that sent Matthew Stafford to Los Angeles, Jared Goff was initially viewed by national analysts as little more than a bridge quarterback or a thrown-in piece of compensation. Yet under head coach Dan Campbell and offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, the former No. 1 overall pick quickly shed that label, orchestrating a career total reinvention that turned him into the beloved, steady field general of a championship-caliber Motown renaissance.

After navigating a difficult transitional year in 2021, Goff found his groove in 2022, throwing for 4,438 yards and 29 touchdowns to launch one of the league's most lethal offenses. His surgical accuracy and mastery of pre-snap reads became the heartbeat of the team's upward trajectory. By 2023, Goff cemented his status in Lions lore by steering Detroit to its first division title in 30 years and powering the franchise to two home playoff victories, reaching the NFC Championship Game.

Goff took his play even higher in the 2024 and 2025 campaigns, establishing himself as one of the most efficient pocket passers in modern NFL history. During a historic 2024 season, he set a franchise record with a 72.4% completion rate, threw 37 touchdown passes, and earned an AP MVP Award candidacy. He backed that up in 2025 with another stellar 4,564-yard, 34-touchdown output, becoming the first quarterback in Detroit Lions history to record three consecutive seasons with 30 or more touchdown passes.

Entering the 2026 season as the undisputed leader of a Motown powerhouse, Goff holds the highest career passer rating (101.3) and completion percentage (67.9%) in Lions franchise history. Behind a dominant offensive line and surrounded by explosive weapons, the veteran signal-caller has transformed Ford Field into one of the most intimidating environments in football, entering the current campaign with his sights firmly set on delivering Detroit its first Lombardi Trophy.

Thus far, Goff has 149 touchdown passes with a 149-47 TD-INT ratio.

Selected seventh overall out of Oregon in the 2021 NFL Draft, Penei Sewell entered the professional ranks burdened by immense expectations as one of the most physically gifted offensive line prospects of a generation. He quickly erased any doubt about his adjustment to the pro game, stepping onto the field as an instantaneous force of nature who redefined the ceiling of modern offensive tackle play.

Possessing rare agility for a 335-pound anchor, brutal core power, and a relentless mean streak in the running game, Sewell made a seamless transition across both edges of Motown's front five. He started at left tackle as a 20-year-old rookie before kicking over to right tackle, establishing himself as the emotional and physical heartbeat of Detroit's powerhouse offense. His combination of zone-blocking reach and downfield athleticism turned him into a highlight reel out in space, while his lockdown pass protection made him a cornerstone of the Lions' resurgence under Dan Campbell.

By his fifth NFL season, Sewell had compiled a resume that placed him at the absolute summit of his position. He captured three consecutive First-Team AP All-Pro selections (2023–2025) and four straight Pro Bowl nods (2022–2025), matching legendary franchise figures like Lou Creekmur for individual accolades while anchoring one of the most feared offensive lines in gridiron history.

Heading into the 2026 campaign at just 25 years old, Sewell remains firmly entrenched as the premier tackle in professional football. Rewarded with a massive contract extension to keep him in Detroit, he is the man who holds the key to the offensive line anchor.

Welcome back to Season 7, Episode 9 of The Buck Stops Here! Kirk Buchner and Evan Nolan are back to break down the newly announced 2026 Hockey Hall of Fame class. We celebrate first-ballot legends like Patrice Bergeron, Carey Price, and Keith Tkachuk, but we also take the HHOF selection committee to task. Kirk breaks down the lack of transparency surrounding Brian Burke’s induction and Evan compares it to a "Cheney Committee."