Was it a Reach?: Isaac Teslaa

Was it a Reach: Isaac Teslaa

Many years ago, I created Why the Slide and Why Undrafted in response to questions about why certain well-known prospects were selected lower or not drafted at all in the NFL Draft. This year, I thought to expand to see if a player was a reach. The answer to whether a player was a reach is as simple as the player was valued at that spot by the team that drafted him. However, other teams may not agree with that grade, so I thought I would check if certain players were actual reaches in the NFL Draft.

For these articles, I reach out to sources with NFL teams to find out where their teams valued this player. The positive response to “Why Undrafted” and questions from readers about why prospects were drafted lower than the media’s expectations led us to create the parallel series “Why the Slide?” and now, “Was it a Reach?”

Both series are back this year. Feel free to email me requests for Why the Slide? and Why Undrafted? at [email protected]. I can’t promise to get to all of them, but I will do my best and definitely will respond to the email.

In the early going of the lead-up to the 2025 NFL Draft, Arkansas wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa was a consensus day-round prospect, but TeSlaa started to creep up with a nice Senior Bowl performance and a fast 40 at the NFL Scouting Combine. TeSlaa was considered to be a likely mid-round pick, and it was a big surprise to see the Lions jump from pick 102 all the way to pick 70 to get TeSlaa. The Lions gave up two 2026 third-round picks along with pick 102. Having three-round picks invest in TeSlaa was a huge price to pay for Detroit.

In speaking to sources at a few other teams, they all felt that taking TeSlaa at the top of the third round was a reach. They also felt the Lions paid way too much to get him. “I think they were maybe overthinking and trying to outsmart everyone else,” said an NFC director of player personnel.

Under general manager Brad Holmes, the Lions have been one of the best drafting teams in the NFL, and that has been proven with Detroit going from one of the worst teams in the league to one of the best. However, the Lions have lost some of their top scouts this offseason, and in 2024, as other teams have promoted and poached talent from the Detroit front office. I think those losses were felt on day two of the 2025 NFL Draft, including the decision to do this trade.

With the Lions, TeSlaa will likely start out as the fourth or fifth wide receiver. Given the draft picks invested in him, he will make the final 53-man roster. TeSlaa will be the backup to Tim Patrick and is the long-term replacement for Patrick. There is no doubt that Detroit will push TeSlaa on the field, and he better become a really good starting receiver to justify having three third-round picks invested in him.