By Sunday 
One Clip, Big Reactions
It didn’t take long for Detroit Lions rookie wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa to land in the middle of a social media firestorm—and all it took was one highlight video. After a clip surfaced from the Lions’ rookie minicamp showing the 23-year-old hauling in a reception against a defensive back, critics pounced.
One Bleacher Report draft analyst went straight for the jugular: “This can’t be inspiring if you’re a fan of the Detroit Lions.”
Yikes.
The Trade That Turned Heads
Let’s rewind for context. Lions GM Brad Holmes made a bold move during the draft, trading multiple third-round picks to leap 32 spots for TeSlaa, a wideout out of Arkansas. The move immediately raised eyebrows among analysts who questioned if the Lions reached for a player with raw edges still needing polish.
And sure enough, once the minicamp footage dropped, the scrutiny intensified.
Separation Anxiety
One of the big knocks on TeSlaa coming out of college? His ability to create separation off the line. According to respected draft expert Dane Brugler, TeSlaa struggled with early contact, didn’t face much press coverage, and wasn’t even asked to run a full route tree during his 2024 campaign.
Brugler put it bluntly: “Unimpressive two-year production in SEC. Despite size and speed, struggled to escape press and early contact.”
So naturally, a one-on-one clip where separation didn’t jump off the screen became the perfect ammunition for critics.
Fans Fire Back
But Lions fans weren’t having it. Many took to social media to defend TeSlaa, reminding folks that it was literally the first day of rookie minicamp.
One supporter nailed the vibe, tweeting: “There are people seeing this and complaining about the lack of separation. That’s how you know that you can just ignore their player evaluation about the receiver position.”
Another fan went a step further, taking a jab at the online experts: “Draft people quote tweeting rookie minicamp clips to use it as confirmation of their eval is some pathetic s**t, lol.”
A Rookie, Not a Finished Product
Look, it’s fair to critique a trade-up or question a prospect’s polish. But reducing a player’s future to a single rep in a light practice? That might be jumping the gun. Development takes time, especially at a position like wide receiver.
As one draft analyst doubled down by calling the Lions’ move “the worst trade-up and reach in the entire NFL Draft,” it’s worth asking: shouldn’t we let the kid play a few real games first?
Whether TeSlaa becomes a hidden gem or a cautionary tale, his story is just beginning. Let’s not pretend one minicamp video writes the final chapter.
Want more Lions updates and draft drama? Stay tuned—this offseason’s only getting spicier.