The Detroit Lions hope to build off the NFC Championship appearance just a year before their dream was shattered in the upset loss to the Washington Commanders. Even though the Lions suffered a crushing defeat to their Super Bowl aspirations, they suffered their worst losses in the offseason.
Coordinators Aaron Glenn and Ben Johnson, defensive line coach Terrell Williams, and key players Carlton Davis III, Kevin Zeitler, and Frank Ragnow are all gone. It’s rare for a team to suffer such huge departures like this, and of course, it has to be the Lions.
While the Lions may not be the dominant team they were last year, they still have a good team. Their core pieces, led by head coach Dan Campbell, Jared Goff, Aidan Hutchinson, and Amon-Ra St. Brown, are still there.
With the numerous losses they’ve endured, they’ll need new players to step up and fill the void. One new addition could contribute right away and potentially become an instant starter at training camp.
Lions Rookie Isaac TeSlaa Could Be a Starter
When it comes to evaluating talent, Brad Holmes is one of the best. When he raves over a player like he did Isaac TeSlaa, that should be an indicator that the player is good.
"I’ll give you this though: The pick that was probably the most questioned, I would say, was Isaac TeSlaa. I can say that he was my favorite wide receiver in this draft. I’m not saying he was the best wide receiver in the draft. But favorite wide receiver in the draft? Yes."Brad Holmes, The Detroit News
Holmes had to have loved what he saw from TeSlaa, as he traded three third-round picks to move up from pick 102 to 70 to draft him. TeSlaa played three years at the Division II level for Hillsdale College before transferring to Arkansas.
At Hillsdale, TeSlaa recorded 118 receptions, 2,116 yards, and 19 touchdowns in 26 games, while at Arkansas, he posted 62 receptions, 896 yards, and five touchdowns in 25 games. TeSlaa, a Michigan native, received a 96-athleticism score, ranking first among wide receivers for his 4.43 40-yard dash and a vertical jump of 39.5 inches.
Isaac TeSlaa scored a 9.97 RAS, including a 4.43 40, 39.5” vertical, and 4.05 shuttle….
— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) March 5, 2025
But how’s the tape? Well…
➖ good run blocker
➖ 0 career drops
➖ WILD contested catching (54%)
➖ 68% of snaps from the slot
➖ dominant at Hillsdale, 2 years at Arkansas (883yds, 5 TD) pic.twitter.com/KfrV6GQVbT
At six feet four inches tall, no wonder Holmes went all-in to acquire him. Besides Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, the Lions don’t have another dynamic wide receiver. Tim Patrick was used mainly as a blocker last year, while Kalif Raymond was used as a reserve.
This puts TeSlaa in a good position to take the last starting receiver spot. The Lions already have some dynamic playmakers on offense, and adding TeSlaa to the mix only makes them better.
If TeSlaa were to take that spot, he’ll need to perform well in training camp and display his skillset to new offensive coordinator John Morton.