Ahead of debut, Lions' TeSlaa talks Patrick mentorship and trade, and the value of Montgomery's hard coaching
Allen Park — Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes made two trades, 124 days apart, boldly proclaiming the same thing: I believe in Isaac TeSlaa.
In late April, facing a prolonged wait between the team’s second-round selection — used to fill a massive roster hole with Georgia offensive lineman Tate Ratledge — and pick No. 102 at the end of the third round, Holmes aggressively explored ways to move up to land the Arkansas receiver and Michigan native.
The GM finally found a taker in Jacksonville, who parted with No. 70 in the early stages of the third round, pick No. 182 in the sixth, and a future sixth for 102 and a pair of third-round choices in 2026.
Moments later, TeSlaa was a Lion.
TeSlaa was an upside play more than an expectation of immediate impact. That was clear the night of the draft and driven home in the team’s “Inside the Den” documentary, where coach Dan Campbell talked about which prospect offered the most upside in Year 2.
Development was going to be required for the former high school quarterback, who started his college journey at D-II Hillsdale before playing a slot-heavy role for two seasons at Arkansas.
But for as much as the Lions downplay measureables, TeSlaa offers them in spades, testing out as one of the most athletic receivers to ever enter the league. On top of that, he commanded Holmes’ attention at the Senior Bowl with his blocking, showing the requisite grit to wear the Honolulu blue.
A funny thing has happened in the months since Holmes made TeSlaa’s dreams come true with a draft-night phone call. The rookie has blown his developmental timelines out of the water, flattening the curve at each turn of his first offseason.