Detroit executed another trade-up and selected Arkansas wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa with the sixth pick of the third round (No. 70 overall) during Friday night’s 2025 NFL Draft. TeSlaa, who began his career as a quarterback at Hudsonville Unity Christian, later starred at Division II Hillsdale College. After back-to-back standout seasons there, his combination of size and athleticism earned him a transfer to Arkansas, where he finished with 62 receptions for 896 yards and five touchdowns over two seasons.
“I have no clue why Arkansas didn’t lean more heavily on Isaac TeSlaa,” ESPN’s Louis Riddick said during the broadcast. “Detroit and Jared Goff are about to love this kid — he’s a 6-foot-4, 214-pound slot receiver running a 4.43 who moves like a guy half his size. He’s explosive, fearless, has an enormous catch radius, and once he’s got the ball, he’s gone.”
TeSlaa’s arrival in Detroit feels like the culmination of a dream. During the NFL Combine, he openly described himself as a major Lions fan and even attended their NFC Championship loss to the 49ers in 2023. Now, he’ll suit up for the hometown team with hopes of helping deliver a championship.
Riddick continued, “The physical mismatch he brings inside is going to give NFL defensive backs headaches. Now imagine lining him up alongside Jameson Williams, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Sam LaPorta, Jahmyr Gibbs, and David Montgomery — Detroit is stacking serious talent. This was a huge addition for them.”
