Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes hadn't yet watched Arkansas wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa's game film when he went down to the Senior Bowl and saw him play live in the annual college football showcase game in February.
"Just saw how he was in the run game in the team periods," Holmes said of TeSlaa at the Senior Bowl after moving up 32 spots in the third round to select him Friday night. "Just his blocking and his size and he was just being a pest, and he was pissing off the DBs and defenders."
That made Holmes want to watch the tape, and he liked him even more.
"You see a guy that's big, long, smooth strider, can accelerate, can run," he said. "He's a hands catcher. He plays special teams and can block. He can do a lot of things."
The Lions moved up 32 spots from No. 102 to No. 70 in the third round to select TeSlaa. Detroit gave up pick 102 in the third round of this year's draft and both of their third-round picks in next year's draft to get into a position to select TeSlaa. Detroit received a sixth-round pick this year (No. 182) and a sixth-round pick next year in the trade.
TeSlaa, a Hudsonville, Mich. native, is a big-bodied receiver at 6-foot-4, 214 pounds with tons of big-play potential. He ranked fifth in the SEC last season with a 19.5-yard average per reception. He was a two-year starter at Arkansas after starting his college career at Division II Hillsdale.
TeSlaa has been a Lions fan his entire life and actually wore a Lions jersey to the Meijer Performance Center when he came for a pre-draft visit.
He caught 62 passes for 897 and five touchdowns combined the last two seasons and wasn't credited with a single dropped pass while at Arkansas. He played in the slot at Arkansas, but his skillset will certainly translate to the outside in Detroit, and he'll be another downfield and run-after-catch weapon new offensive coordinator John Morton can deploy in 2025. Holmes said he can play both inside and outside with his toughness and skillset.
View photos of wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa.
Arkansas wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (4) reacts after making a first down catch against Western Carolina during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023, in Little Rock, Ark. (AP Photo/Michael Woods)
Arkansas wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (4) makes a touchdown catch over Western Carolina defensive back Mateo Sudipo (1) during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023, in Little Rock, Ark. (AP Photo/Michael Woods)
Arkansas wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Arkansas wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa runs with the ball against Texas A&M during the second half of an NCAA college football game between Texas A&M and Arkansas, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. Texas A&M won 21-17. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Arkansas wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Arkansas wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (4) leaps past Florida linebacker Scooby Williams (17) and cornerback Devin Moore, lower right, for a first down after a reception during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Arkansas wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (4) makes a touchdown catch in front of Louisiana Tech defensive back Jhamal Shelby Jr. (4) during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in Fayetteville, Ark. (AP Photo/Michael Woods)
Arkansas wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 1, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Arkansas wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (4) runs a play against Kent State during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Sept.9, 2023, in Fayetteville, Ark. (AP Photo/Michael Woods)
Arkansas wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 1, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Arkansas wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (4) pulls in a pass against LSU safety Andre' Sam (14) in the first half of an NCAA college football game in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Arkansas wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa runs with the ball against Texas A&M during the second half of an NCAA college football game between Texas A&M and Arkansas, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. Texas A&M won 21-17. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Arkansas wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa, left, tries to get away from Florida cornerback Jaydon Hill after a reception during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Arkansas wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Mississippi linebacker Ashanti Cistrunk (36) tackles Arkansas wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (4) during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Oxford, Miss., Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. Mississippi won 27-20. (AP Photo/Thomas Graning)
TeSlaa ran the 40-yard dash in 4.43 seconds at the Combine with a 39.5 vertical, so he brings great size and speed to a Detroit receiver room that returns All-Pro Amon-Ra St. Brown, speedster Jameson Williams and veterans Tim Patrick and Kalif Raymond.
"I'm just ready to get to the facility and put the work in," TeSlaa said. "I see myself as someone who can play both positions (slot and outside). Obviously, I have a big frame with speed to play outside receiver but I can moved to the slot and I feel like I bring a lot of versatility."
