The Detroit Lions made waves during the 2025 NFL Draft when they jumped up 32 spots in the third round to select Arkansas wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa — a player many draft analysts didn’t have ranked nearly that high.
According to a fresh report from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Lions weren’t the only team eyeing TeSlaa. Both the New Orleans Saints and Buffalo Bills were impressed with his pre-draft performances and were likely targeting him right after Detroit’s pick at No. 70 overall. The Denver Broncos, who took a receiver just a few picks later, were also in the mix.
What made TeSlaa so appealing? Lions GM Brad Holmes first noticed him at the Senior Bowl, where TeSlaa’s physicality as a run blocker stood out. But TeSlaa’s path to the Senior Bowl wasn’t easy — he had to hustle just to land a Hula Bowl invite, which then opened the door for his Senior Bowl shot. He turned heads at the NFL Combine too, running a 4.43-second 40-yard dash at 6-foot-4 and 214 pounds.
While his college stats at Arkansas were modest (62 catches, 896 yards, five touchdowns over two seasons), scouts and insiders saw his lower production as more about quarterback struggles, not a lack of talent or effort. In fact, Holmes reportedly became a big fan of TeSlaa’s personality and work ethic during the draft process.
For TeSlaa, the moment is especially sweet — the Michigan native now gets to suit up for his childhood team, the same Lions he once watched on TV and dreamed of playing for. “It’s a fun feeling, let me tell you,” TeSlaa said after being drafted. “Not everyone gets to experience this, and I’m just extremely grateful… I’m ready to come to work.”
Detroit made an aggressive move to land him, and now all eyes will be on whether TeSlaa can turn that faith into production on the field.
