There is also the report that he had great pre-draft visits with the New Orleans Saints, Buffalo Bills and Denver Broncos. The Saints had the 71st pick, the Bills had No. 72, and the Broncos were there at 74th overall, so the Lions moved up 32 selections to get in front of those franchises to take TeSlaa in the trade with Jacksonville.
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This isn’t really a comp, it’s more of a deepish dive on Isaac TeSlaa. You’ve seen some of the early links. Check out some of the later ones:
Isaac TeSlaa. The Hometown Bully. Detroit Lions Player Draft Analysis 2025 : r/detroitlions
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think it’s become a theme that the 3rd round is for high upside developmental projects. Isaac TeSlaa joins Iffy Melifonwu, Alim McNeil, Kerby Joseph, Hendon Hooker, Brodric Martin as our high upside 3rd round swings. You could even put in Derrick Barnes and Giovanni Manu in that bucket as well. It’s a blast seeing this drafting philosophy and watching out players develop overtime. "
Love it!
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https://x.com/CoachBirach/status/1921252874882851090
- Alright, onto the pass game. TeSlaa had 38 targets last year, a byproduct of how he was utilized. He is used as a “Clearout” a lot of the time. His task was primarily to be a speed demon and draw the coverage away to help create an open receiver. 7/18
I have referenced this principle before. This is what I meant by, ‘is this guy gonna smash me, or take off’-type plays.
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He’s a Dirt bag!
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Great find, brother. If you guys haven’t gone through these…I would highly recommend.
I think this cat is a high ceiling/high floor guy.
I feel strongly enough about this one to say…“if you don’t chew Big Red, then ■■■■ you!” LOL
This guy is gonna get ushered in by Timmy, Ra, and the boys, and take Patrick’s spot next season. Deadliest WRs in the NFL - and it’s not close.
Goff’s Weapons are ridiculous shit. Completely unmatched. Just a little help from the defense this year (health), and this is a SB year. We may have a tough as hell schedule, but we’re gonna be an extremely difficult out, no matter who we play or where. Teslaa will be a role player this year…and next year, he’s a much larger contributor. Patrick has been AMAZING, and he’s earned that starting spot. Would take a lot to take that from him, as reliable as he’s been.
Next year, we get younger, faster, etc.
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Don’t disagree with any of this. And I’m not the guy saying we gave up three 3rds for Teslaa. Day 2 picks are considered premium regardless of where they fall. They are coveted in trade backs and for acquiring proven NFL talent.
I think it’s amazing how many are drawing a line in the sand that this has to be a great deal for the lions or you are basically dumb. Two things can be true…sure you like the player, I do as well. But it was an awful lot to give up for a guy with his production. Some acting as if it’s out of the question to suggest we overplayed have home cooking blinders on imo…
@Jman you cannot in the same response say the Lions didn’t overpay but then state the cowboys did. Either 3rd round picks aren’t valuable or they are, right? So how is it a lot to give up ONE 3rd for proven NFL WR but at the same time not a lot to give up TWO for Teslaa? And before you go into us getting late day 3 picks back…I’m aware…I guess I am downplaying 6th rounders like you are downplaying 3rds (or in the cowboys case overvaluing that one for some reason). Sounds like you are picking and choosing the criteria to fit a narrative in favor of the team you support. I however believe I am being objective 
George Pickens is a diva WR. They exist on 95% of NFL rosters…just not ours. He has played with absolute trash so yeah the way he has responded rules him out as a potential Lion.
I’m not advocating saying I wanted him. BTW the entire board loved Pickens coming out…just throwing that out there…
Giving up a 3rd for Pickens is an easy “gamble.” Talent wise he’s worth much more. Maybe playing with a good QB changes things for him. But at worst he puts up another good season and they let him go and he could certainly net them a 3rd comp pick back. How is that possibly a fleecing? Interesting take
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Wow dude is animal in the run game. Not often you see WR’s putting guys on their ass like that. Our RB’s are gonna love him.
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4 years, cheap. Fits our mold of what we want as a player, person at that position.
Vs
1 year for a turd (I actually wanted to draft Pickens too, glad we didn’t)
For a guy we will have for 4 years and is a culture fit instead of a guy that will be a free agent with Jamo next year ??? And is a turd
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Again not advocating wanting Pickens…why is that even being stated? I think I mentioned that fact in every response.
Simply stating you are not looking at either deal from an unbiased viewpoint.
Bro you really ignored every single point I was trying to make.
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NOT true. I certainly didn’t. And I wasn’t alone. In fact I’d say the board was about 50/50. His terrible attitude was a known thing, even back then.
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With his blocking prowess, he’s going to fit right in.
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Sorry brotha didn’t meant too.
What point are you trying to make lol
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Yes that was definitely an over exaggeration for sure. That happens sometimes when debating topics. Admitting wrong doesn’t…which I did yet again here haha
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The point about pick values. How somehow two 3rds isn’t an overpay for an unknown player. But one 3rd is getting fleeced for a guy who potentially returns a 3rd if they don’t extend him? Pickens is probably in a spot where he has a career year.
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I view it as
Lions got Teslaa with our 2026 3rd (with other pick swap)
Cowboys got Pickens with their 2026 3rd (with other pick swap)
Cowboys drafted 15 picks earlier than we did in 2025… that’s irrelevant but it shows we were a much better team and should be picking later again next year
I view this like Bills trading a 3rd for Amari Cooper was “poised to have a monster year”
He was 1 and done in Buffalo
I see this as more doubling down haha. Comparing an aging Amari Cooper to a coming into his prime George Pickens is whack imo lol. If we were boys who hung out weekly this would be a prime spot for a wager. I would bet Pickens has 70+ catches 1000+ yards and 7+ TDs. I would also bet teslaa doesn’t have those numbers in any two year stretch.
Again please don’t interpret this as I don’t like the player. There’s just a ton of mouths to feed here. Hence why I don’t like the trade capital given up for a player who is going to have such limited opportunity. I’ve also always been a massive Jamo supporter. So i see him as a must sign guy. So im not viewing Teslaa as a potential Jamo replacement. I also think its kind of homerish for anyone to expect that.
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Unrelated to the pick, because I don’t care about the picks. But Jared Goff doesn’t care about the number on the back of the jersey. If the kid can get open, he will get the ball. He will also block his ass off better than Pickens ever will.
Just throwing that in there as an aside.
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Everything you said here is true, And Dallas is a good fit for Pickens as far as character & scheme.
I love Jamo, agree must sign. He’s core. He’s a star.
Teslaa gives us a fallback option 2-3 years from now if that Jamo contract doesn’t work out for us.
Pickens is Dallas’s Jamo… and will get paid if he fits in there this season.
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