By Sunday 
Dreams Do Come True — Especially in Detroit
Friday night was nothing short of surreal for Isaac TeSlaa.
The 6-foot-3, 225-pound wide receiver wasn’t just realizing a lifelong dream of playing in the NFL — he was doing it with the team he’s loved since he was a kid: the Detroit Lions.
“I don’t know if I have words now. I’m still processing it right now,” TeSlaa told local reporters, emotions running high after his name was called. “Obviously, it’s been not only a dream to play in the NFL, but to play for my hometown team, the team I’ve been rooting for since I was a baby.”
The Lions clearly saw something special in TeSlaa. They traded a third-rounder this year and two third-rounders next year to the Jaguars to grab him at pick No. 70 — along with a couple of sixth-round picks sprinkled into the deal.
Bottom line? They didn’t just want TeSlaa. They needed him.
A New Weapon for the Lions’ Air Attack
TeSlaa isn’t walking into an empty receiver room — far from it.
He’ll be joining forces with the likes of Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Tim Patrick, and Kalif Raymond. It’s a loaded group, but TeSlaa isn’t backing down. He knows he brings something unique to the table.
“So many different talents and so many different backgrounds I’m going to be able to learn from,” he said. “I’m just excited to… bring something else, bring something new to the room as well.”
That “something new” is a versatile, big-bodied receiver who can line up both outside and in the slot.
“Obviously, I have a big frame, speed, size, everything, so that’s an outside receiver, but I can also be moved to the slot,” TeSlaa explained.
And he’s not the type to rest on natural talent alone: “There’s always room to grow… that’s my mentality — just coming in, doing everything I can do, and just continuing to improve every single day.”
From Fan to Family
For TeSlaa, this moment is the stuff of family lore.
Growing up in Hudsonville, he spent countless Sundays glued to the TV with his dad, watching Matthew Stafford sling passes to Calvin Johnson.
He even witnessed history firsthand — sitting in the stands the night Megatron broke Jerry Rice’s single-season receiving record back in 2012.
Now?
He’s no longer just a fan in the stands. He’s part of the team writing the next chapter.
“Not everyone gets to experience this, and I’m just extremely grateful,” TeSlaa said. “Obviously, God’s had a plan for me my entire life, and who knew that plan was going to be to play for the Detroit Lions someday. So I’m just extremely grateful and, like I said, I’m just ready to come to work.”
Watching the Lions was fun.
Playing for them? That’s the real dream.(Perfect for social media or email previews!)