By Blessing 
Detroit Lions Day 2 Draft Recap: Strength in the Trenches, Gamble at Wide Receiver
On Day 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions made some bold moves, trading up twice to snag a pair of players they had high on their board: Georgia guard Tate Ratledge and Hudsonville native Isaac TeSlaa. Both are viewed by the Lions’ front office as key future contributors on offense.
Ratledge’s selection fills an immediate and pressing need, but the aggressive move to secure TeSlaa — which cost Detroit multiple third-round picks — has stirred some debate across NFL circles.
Here’s how the Lions’ Day 2 decisions are being graded by media outlets across the country:
—
Tate Ratledge: Solid Pick with Immediate Impact
Grade: A
The departure of veteran Kevin Zeitler in free agency left a noticeable hole on the Lions’ offensive line, and Ratledge looks poised to step right in. Standing 6-foot-6, Ratledge brings the toughness and leverage Detroit values up front. As one outlet noted,
> “The 6-foot-6 mauler plays with surprising leverage for his size and brings the attitude the Lions desire up front.”
CBS Sports praised the pick, describing Ratledge as a
> “tall yet explosive and decently flexible guard to pulverize in the run game,”
highlighting his strong fundamentals and elite hand placement, though they pointed out he must work on lowering his pad level more consistently.
Other analysts couldn’t help but note Ratledge’s intense playing style — and even his impressive hair.
> “Ratledge might have the most finely coiffed head of hair in this year’s draft class, but he plays with his hair on fire,”
one outlet joked, emphasizing his nastiness and freak athleticism. Despite injury setbacks in college, Ratledge started 37 games at Georgia and posted an astounding 9.96 relative athletic score. Some believe he would have been an even bigger name this draft season if not for surgery last year.
In short, Ratledge fits the Lions’ gritty identity perfectly — a “plug-and-play” starter who should fortify their offensive line immediately.
—
Isaac TeSlaa: A Risky but Intriguing Investment
Grades Range: B- to C-
The Lions’ decision to trade away two 2026 third-rounders in order to move up for Isaac TeSlaa raised a few eyebrows. While TeSlaa is clearly an athletic marvel, his production at Arkansas left some questioning the price Detroit paid.
One analyst summed up the concerns well:
> “The fear is that TeSlaa was a better tester than a performer — he never caught more than 34 passes in Power Four action.”
While TeSlaa did shine during Senior Bowl week and tested off the charts — earning a stunning 9.97 relative athletic score, ranking 11th among all wide receiver prospects since 1987 — many feel his college numbers didn’t match his athletic potential.
Still, CBS Sports was somewhat optimistic, calling him a
> “scintillating big slot with elite-testing figures that pop on film,”
adding that he knows how to find space in zone defenses and excels when going up for contested catches.
The downside? Limited yards after the catch and concerns about whether he can consistently separate from defenders at the NFL level.
One outlet pointed out the Lions might have been able to wait and get a similar player later in the draft:
> “There was nothing wrong with the Lions targeting a big body…but they gave up a lot for a player they could have had in the middle of or late on Day 3.”
Still, it’s worth noting Detroit has found success before with similarly built receivers — and if TeSlaa can unlock his full potential, he could turn into a matchup nightmare, particularly in the slot.
—
Summary of the Day 2 Grades
Across major outlets, the consensus on Detroit’s Day 2 draft moves looks like this:
Tate Ratledge received widespread praise, earning grades ranging from A to B+. He’s viewed as a physical, nasty guard who perfectly matches Dan Campbell’s vision for the team.
Isaac TeSlaa received more mixed evaluations, with grades typically between B- and C-, largely because of the steep price Detroit paid relative to TeSlaa’s current production level.
One evaluation captured the overall feeling best:
> “Good marriage of value and need here for Detroit” when it came to Ratledge, and a “major slot mismatch” with TeSlaa — but with development needed.
—
The Lions clearly had a strategy on Day 2: secure players they love, even if it meant being aggressive. With Ratledge, Detroit addressed a key need with a polished, high-upside prospect. With TeSlaa, they swung for the fences on raw athleticism, betting on their coaching staff’s ability to mold him into a future star.
Whether these bold moves pay off, only time will tell.