One of the most surprising picks in the entire 2025 NFL draft was the Detroit Lions’ selection of Arkansas wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa in the third round.
It wasn’t surprising because the Lions didn’t need a wideout, but rather because TeSlaa wasn’t on anyone’s radar in that spot. Most experts had a fifth- or sixth-round grade on the little-known wide receiver ahead of the draft.
Not to mention, the Lions traded up 32 spots to nab him in a deal that saw Detroit give up three third-round selections, including two in 2026. Despite giving up that much, the pick wasn’t as big of an overpay as you might expect.
“Then TeSlaa, he was one — saw him at the Senior Bowl when I went down there and hadn’t watched his film yet, but saw how he was in the run game in the team periods just his blocking and his size,” Lions GM Brad Holmes said of TeSlaa. “He was just being a pest and he was just pissing off the DBs and the defenders and obviously it just made me want to completely watch the tape,” Holmes enthused. “And you see a guy that’s just big, long, smooth strider, can accelerate, can run. He’s a hands catcher, can play special teams, can block so can do a lot of things.”
One person who wasn’t a fan of the trade up and selection of TeSlaa was ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr., who gave the Lions a “C+” grade for the entire class and pointed out the pick of the Arkansas product as the team’s most head-scratching move.
Detroit’s most questionable move, though, was trading up from No. 102 to No. 70 to take receiver Isaac TeSlaa. Good player, but he was ranked No. 149 overall on my board. I count 12 receivers ranked above him who were still available — and nine of them still would have been there at the Lions’ original slot. To make the aggressive move up the board, Detroit forked over two 2026 third-rounders.
The move up and selection of TeSlaa reminds us of the one Holmes made in 2024 for offensive lineman Giovanni Manu, who the team took much higher (fourth round) than projections had him going. The jury is still out on Manu.
Was the pick outside the box based on projections? Sure, but as we know, analysts’ draft boards don’t always match up with those of actual teams.
Furthermore, Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell march to the beat of their own drum when it comes to the draft and have a prototype for what they’re looking for in prospects. Clearly, TeSlaa fit the bill.
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