Detroit Lions GM Brad Holmes says Isaac TeSlaa was his favorite WR in the class—not necessarily the best.
Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes knows that his most questioned pick in the 2025 NFL Draft was Arkansas wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa—particularly after a costly trade up in the third round.
But during a radio appearance on 97.1 The Ticket this week, Holmes admitted that while he may not have been the best receiver in this year’s class, TeSlaa was his favorite .
“Probably the pick that was the most questioned, I would say, is Isaac TeSlaa. I can say that he was my favorite wide receiver in this draft. I’m not saying he’s the best wide receiver in the draft, but favorite wide receiver in the draft,” Holmes said.
The Lions general manager didn’t elaborate on that statement during the radio segment, but he did justify the trade up. He noted that the depth in this year’s class was thin, and the amount of wide receiver-hungry teams between their original pick at 102 and the spot they traded up to (70) was massive.
“Yeah, we love the player, but when you start looking at (it). We’re at 102 and you have this player—and take away the player, the specific player—it’s just this player graded at a certain level, maybe it’s only two or three of those guys left on the entire board,” Holmes said. “You’re sitting down there at 102 and you look up, and it’s like, ‘Okay, we love this player, but also there’s probably about eight teams that still are looking for a wide receiver.’ So you’ve got to take all of those things into account. Obviously, it all starts with you’ve got to have conviction of the player.”
The Lions ultimately made the move, trading Pick 102 and both of their 2026 third-round picks, for Pick 70 and a pair of sixth-round picks (one in 2025, one in 2026).
TeSlaa has all the physical traits to be a talented wide receiver at the next level. He has size (6-foot-4, 214), speed (4.43), and gritty attitude necessary to make it, but there are some questions about his production. While he produced at DII school Hillsdale college, he managed just 897 yards and five touchdowns in two years after transferring to Arkansas.
On draft night, Holmes said he believes there are valid reasons for the drop in production, and after watching the tape, he was sold.
“You see a guy that’s just big, long, smooth strider, can accelerate, can run,” Holmes said. “He’s a hands catcher, can play special teams, can block. So (he) can do a lot of things.”
But with TeSlaa mostly playing in the slot in college, even Holmes admitted there are things he’s going to have to learn at the next level.
“Just like any other receiver he’s going to need to develop but he’s got the tools to play outside and win outside,” Holmes said. “He’s going to have to learn getting off press and all that stuff just like they all do, but he’s got all the physical tools and he’s got the intangible makeup to be able to overcome that.”
TeSlaa will have his first opportunity to prove Holmes right when the Lions open rookie minicamp on Friday, May 9.