The Detroit Lions have been one of the league’s best teams in the NFL Draft over the last several years, as general manager Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell have flexed their muscles to build one of the best rosters around.
Time will tell if the 2025 class will be as good as those in previous years, yet fans should feel confident in the general direction of the franchise.
Holmes and Campbell are still hard at work finding undrafted free agents, though one under-discussed draft pick should officially make one veteran wideout feel worried about his status in the rotation.
New Lions WR Isaac TeSlaa Putting Ronnie Bell on the Chopping Block
In the third round with the 70th pick, the Lions selected Arkansas WR Isaac TeSlaa. The Michigan native will play for his hometown team, and he’ll quickly become a favorite among fans in the area. Based on his testing, it’s not an exaggeration to say that TeSlaa is one of the most athletic wideout prospects ever.
The six-foot-four, 214-pound Razorback ranked 29th out of 3,816 receivers since 1987 in the RAS (Raw Athletic Score) database. He has size and massive hands, ran a 4.43 40-yard dash, ranked among the position’s best in jumping drills, and displayed excellent agility.
In fairness, his production raises some questions, yet the Lions have long bet on athletes and they found one of the best here. He had 62 catches for 896 yards and five TDs over the last two years, playing sparingly on special teams as well. He failed to earn a significant role on the offense despite that incredible physical profile.
All that said, the most important impact on his selection may regard veteran wideout Ronnie Bell, who just joined Detroit.
Bell spent the last two seasons with the 49ers, catching just eight passes for 90 yards and three TDs. He’s undersized but has return chops, though TeSlaa’s arrival may shove him off the depth chart. With Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Tim Patrick, and Kalif Raymond firmly entrenched, it’ll be a battle for those final two spots.
Considering the draft capital spent and how athletic TeSlaa is, there’s no question that the Lions envision slotting him ahead of Bell when it’s all said and done.