The Detroit Lions pulled off one of the bigger surprises of the 2025 NFL Draft by trading up into the third round to land wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa, and the bold move has many questioning whether the prospect was worth the jump.
Detroit sacrificed three third-round picks to leap from No. 102 to No. 70, and the decision was labeled as risky by several analysts. ESPN’s Jordan Reid blasted the move as his worst in-draft trade (paywall).
Multiple analysts criticized the Lions’ move for Isaac TeSlaa
“The Detroit Lions trading up 32 spots to take receiver Isaac TeSlaa early in Round 3 was an overpay,” he wrote. “Along with giving up their own third-round pick, Detroit also gave up an extra third-round pick in 2026. While I like TeSlaa, I don’t think he was worth the capital the organization surrendered.”
Pro Football Focus wasn’t a fan of the move, either. Writer John Kosko labeled the selection as one of his top reaches from Day 2 of the draft, citing TeSlaa’s lower ranking on the consensus board in spite of his size advantage.
“TeSlaa is another player PFF’s big board is higher on than the consensus board. He didn’t see many targets the past two years of college after transferring up from the Division II ranks,” Kosko explained. “While he possesses the ideal size, his lack of production against better competition indicates he needs more time to develop.”
TeSlaa didn’t have the production of other wide receivers in his class given he started at Hillsdale College before Arkansas, and that’s likely what has driven this conversation toward the negative. The Lions are gambling on his metrics shining within their offense as he develops.
PFF analyst admits he now likes fit of Isaac TeSlaa
In spite of the fact that TeSlaa was called a reach initially, many are coming around to the idea that the wide receiver is poised to deliver the Lions value when he starts his career. Some may have questioned the move merely because little was known about him before the draft process.
PFF analyst Sam Monson has corrected course early. As he explained the day after the draft concluded, the aggressiveness the Lions showed in targeting the wide receiver caused him to watch more tape. Now, he believes TeSlaa may have been undervalued.
This illustrates the role snap judgements play during the draft. Prospects who are household names always generate more attention, but underrated players have done just as much damage after entering the league. As always, it’s most important to give players time to develop and show what they can do in their unique situations.
One thing is certain given his status as a fan of the team: TeSlaa will be motivated to work hard and prove why those negative evaluations were incorrect.