We're about to enter about three weeks post-NFL Draft, and the news cycle at this point has slowed down significantly as it pertains to the league's most significant draft fodder this year. For the Detroit Lions, that just doesn't seem to yet be the case, especially since they took a swing on one of the more intriguing prospects in the process much higher than analysts had expected them to.
Former Arkansas and now Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa continues to raise some eyebrows from analysts after Detroit traded two third round picks for a player with only 28 catches in 2024.
They added some depth to the position with the selection, surrounding Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams with some help. But, how much help will a projected Day 3 pick realistically offer the Lions' offense?
In his latest intel piece for ESPN, senior national NFL writer Jeremy Fowler explained that one big reason for why TeSlaa ended up rising so far in the draft was that he seized two Bowl appearances - one at the Hula Bowl and another at the Senior Bowl - to show out and prove to teams like the Lions that he could end up being a draft steal if utilized properly.
TeSlaa's push to be in Hula Bowl, Senior Bowl show rookie is ready to get to work in 2025
Fowler wrote that TeSlaa "had to scramble" to get invitations to both the Hula Bowl and Senior Bowl prior to the NFL Combine, where he performed well enough to land one some teams' radars. Then, his combine performance - where he ran a 4.43-second 40 - really put him over the top.
"...Once teams started to see him up close, they scheduled interviews with him and did their research on why he didn't get the ball at Arkansas. It wasn't because of attitude or work ethic issues -- his personality shined in the process, becoming Detroit GM Brad Holmes' favorite player in the draft. Some attributed his low production in college to lack of communication and inexperience at quarterback," wrote Fowler.
Fowler also drops that both the New Orleans Saints and Buffalo Bills were interested in snagging TeSlaa, and those are two teams the Lions traded ahead of in the third round.
Detroit has had a knack for drafting players less known in the pre-draft process. Perhaps TeSlaa will turn into one of those picks, especially with a more established quarterback and offense in place for him to thrive within. One thing is for certain after this report: TeSlaa is ready to work hard to etch a role on this team, just as he worked hard to end up in those pivotal bowl games.
