The Detroit Lions pulled a major surprise trading up to pick No. 70 to snag wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa, and it was a move a long time in the making. Twenty-three years, to be specific.
TeSlaa hails from Hudsonville, Michigan, and grew up a Lions fan. His first stop was at Hillsdale College before he transferred to Arkansas. After a fantastic combine, he quickly got on the radar of multiple NFL teams, including Detroit.
How big of a Lions fan is TeSlaa? When the Lions recently invited him on a top-30 visit, he came wearing the same Lions jersey that he had since he was a child. It was an unconventional move, but it caught the attention of general manager Brad Holmes in a positive way.
"When he came on his top-30 visit, he had on a Lions jersey. I thought he just did a cheesy move, just some fanboy stuff. I'm like 'Come on, you didn't put the Lions jersey on.' But no, he said, 'I've had it since the eighth grade and what better time to wear it than now?' I really respected that. He truly grew up a Lions fan through and through."
Before he became a household name in his own right, TeSlaa grew up with the Lions franchise from the beginning, later divulging he attended the game against the Atlanta Falcons in 2012 when Calvin Johnson set the single-season receiving-yardage record.
With these facts in mind, it's clear TeSlaa was destined to join the franchise in some capacity. His selection represents a dream realized for plenty of young football players in the state and is arguably one of the best moments of the entire 2025 NFL Draft.
Brad Holmes: Isaac TeSlaa's traits will help him fit Detroit Lions exceptionally well
The fact TeSlaa is a Lions fan might end up a mere coincidence because his game is what drew the franchise to him first.
Holmes always looks for players who exemplify a gritty mindset, and when he watched TeSlaa in person and on tape, he saw the kind of impressive player who fit like a glove.
"I saw him at the Senior Bowl when I went down there and hadn't watched his film yet. I saw how he was in the run game in the team periods. His blocking and his size. He was just being a pest and pissing off the defensive backs and the defenders," Holmes explained. "Obviously, it made me want to completely watch the tape. Then, you see a guy that's big, long, smooth strider. Can accelerate, can run. He's a hands catcher. Can play special teams, can block. He can do a lot of things."
While TeSlaa's total production over the last two years at Arkansas doesn't jump off the page (896 yards, five touchdowns), the Lions likely aren't worried about that. Selecting a player is more about fit and mindset.
TeSlaa is willing to do the dirty work and will have no trouble bringing his passion to every snap given his background.
