The Detroit Lions took a break from adding to their trenches to trade up and acquire Arkansas wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft. TeSlaa, who grew up in Hudsonville, Michigan, will now get a chance to play for the team he has watched since he was a kid.
“I don’t know if I have the words right now,” TeSlaa told the media following being selected by the Lions. “I’m still processing it right now. Obviously, it’s been not only a dream to play in the NFL but to play for my hometown team, the team I’ve rooted for since I’ve been a baby – it’s just an incredible feeling. I’m just ready to go to work, get to the facility, and put the work in.”
Round 3, Pick 70: Isaac TeSlaa, WR, Arkansas
The Lions originally held pick No. 102 in the third round but saw an opportunity to trade up to pick No. 70 to acquire TeSlaa. In order to make the deal happen, the Lions coupled pick No. 102 and two third-round picks in 2026 to acquire picks No. 70 and 182 as well as a sixth-round pick in 2026.
“The well runs dry at some points in these Drafts, so you better get the guys you really, really want, then you’ve got to worry about the rest later,” Lions general manager Brad Holmes told the media following the trades on Day 2.
Fit with the Lions
Checking in at 6-foot-3 1⁄2, 215 pounds, with an elite RAS of 9.93 and a Grit score of 77.36 (Tier 2, 32nd overall in class), TeSlaa’s profile is very similar to Lions WR-X Tim Patrick. However, TeSlaa didn’t play the WR-X role at Arkansas; he operated as a Big Slot option (83.3% of snaps came out of the slot), which allowed him to gain separation at the line of scrimmage and get into his routes quickly.
“He’s big, he can run, he’s tough, he’s smart, he’s a hands catcher, and he blocks, and he plays special teams, and that’s why we were excited to go and get him,” Holmes said when describing Teslaa to the media.
Additionally, TeSlaa is a solid blocker, something the Lions demand in their wide receivers. His toughness also translates to special teams, where the Lions feel he can make an impact.
“He was just being a pest, and he was just pissing off the DBs and the defenders,” Holmes said of watching TeSlaa at the Senior Bowl. “And obviously, it just made me want to completely watch the tape. 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.”
While TeSlaa brings a lot of quality traits the Lions prefer, he is still developing as a receiver. One notable area TeSlaa will need to improve is gaining separation at the line when he lines up on the outside. TeSlaa has struggled to beat the press at times, which could be the reason Arkansas opted to use him in the slot so frequently—so he had a natural level of separation from off-coverage.
“He’s going to have to learn getting off press and all that stuff just like they all do,” Holmes continued. “But he’s got all the physical tools, and he’s got the intangible makeup to be able to overcome that.”
While TeSlaa brings a Big Slot element to the Lions—something they don’t currently have on the roster—it’s very likely the Lions view him as a potential replacement for Patrick in the WR-X role. If that’s the case, he’ll need to work on beating the press very early in his career—something TeSlaa believes he is capable of.
“I see myself as someone who can play both positions,” TeSlaa noted in his post-selecion press conference. “Obviously, I have a big frame – speed, size, everything. So, that’s outside receiver, but I can also be moved to the slot. I feel like I bring a lot of versatility, and there’s always room to grow. I think if you talk to anyone in the NFL, even the best of the best, they tell you there’s always room for improvement. So, for me, that’s my mentality, just coming in, doing everything I can do, and just continuing to improve every single day.”
When asked which player he models his game after, TeSlaa noted his game best resembles Rams All-Pro wide receiver, Puka Nakua.
“I think someone I really enjoy watching would be Puka Nacua,” TeSlaa continued. “I think he does so many things so well. You can move him inside, outside, he’s great against man, he’s great against zone. He uses his size, you can put him in motion, he can block in the run game, great in play-action. I just think he does so many things well and I think that’s something I can bring to the table.”
Roster Impact
In Detroit, TeSlaa will likely provide the Lions with a Big Slot option—something they don’t have on the roster—and contributing on special teams, while also working to develop his game at the WR-X role on the outside.
The Lions top four wide receivers are established—Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Patrick, and Kalif Raymond—but TeSlaa has a chance to slide into the WR5 position, and he’ll have a chance to see the field because of his uniqueness and blocking skills.
“Man, I’m pumped. I’m so excited,” TeSlaa said of the Lions wide receiver room. “So many different skill sets, obviously. Veterans, new guys. So many different talents and so many different backgrounds that I’m going to be able to learn from. Obviously, there’s so much talent in that room, and I’m just excited—like I said—to learn from all of them, but to bring something else—something new—to the room as well.”
