Lions traded up with the Jaguars to select Arkansas WR Isaac TeSlaa with the No. 70 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
The Lions gave up two third-round picks to move up for their guy. TeSlaa (6’4/214) is a big-bodied receiver who boasts 4.43 speed, but has just two years of average production to show at the FBS level. Before transferring to Arkansas for the 2023 season, TeSlaa spent three seasons at Hillsdale College, a D2 program. In those three seasons, TeSlaa caught 118 passes for 2,116 yards and 20 touchdowns while averaging 17.9 YPR. While his career numbers at Arkansas won’t blow anybody away (62-883-5 in 25 games), TeSlaa impressed at this year’s Senior Bowl and boosted his stock amongst scouts and coaches. His size makes him a matchup nightmare for most corners and gives him an immediate advantage on contested targets (54.5 career contested catch rate.) It’s also worth noting PFF never attributed a drop to TeSlaa on any of the 100 targets he saw come his way. TeSlaa profiles as a big slot player at the pro level after seeing a 79 percent slot rate last season, but his far from a finished product after just two seasons of D1 play. He’ll be an intriguing developmental for the Lions but doesn’t project for much of a role in year one.
