With the news that the Lions are hosting him for a pre-draft visit, it’s time to take a deeper look at wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa. A big target and a Michigan native, TeSlaa (pronounced Teh-SLAAH) has become a very popular late-round projection for the Lions in mock drafts–including one of our own here.
Isaac TeSlaa, WR, Arkansas
TeSlaa started college at D-II Hillsdale and won the GMAC player of the year award in 2022, fostering a move up to Arkansas. While he was never productive for the Razorbacks, TeSlaa’s talent and athletic ability did pop off the game tape.
- Measured in at just under 6-foot-4 and 213 pounds
- 3-sport HS star at Unity Christian in Hudsonville, winning state titles in football (playing QB) and basketball and setting the school record in the long jump (over 22 feet)
- Caught 28 passes for 532 yards and 3 TDs in 2024
- Had zero drops and one fumble in two years at Arkansas and unofficially had just two drops in three seasons at Hillsdale
- Lived on the honor roll and All-Academic teams at both colleges
Games watched: Missouri, Texas, Texas A&M, Ole Miss, Senior Bowl (in person)
Positives
- Height-weight-speed athlete with high-end NFL Scouting Combine testing that shows on the field
- Natural catcher of the ball away from his frame
- Effective, high-effort blocker
- Strong and secure hands in traffic over the middle
- Creative after the catch and offers some gadget-play and return specialist versatility
- Explosive leaper with innate timing to go get the ball
Negatives
- Played almost exclusively in the slot at Arkansas but might project better as an outside receiver–which could cause transition issues at the next level
- Change of direction skills on the field don’t match his athletic testing
- Rounds his routes and his footwork lacks crispness and urgency from the slot
- Gets pushed off his line a little too easily for a bigger receiver
- Oddly short arms (31 inches) for a 6-foot-4 target
Overall
TeSlaa is a very good late-round prospect with the chance to blossom at the next level. He’s a heavy slot option, but I liked what I saw from TeSlaa during Senior Bowl week working the outside in drills, too. His blocking, attitude and dynamic athleticism are ready-made for special teams duty while TeSlaa learns the ropes as a sub-package receiver as a rookie. He’s a player I’ve known since his high school days and he’s ready to handle being a pro.
This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: Lions draft prospect profile: Isaac TeSlaa, WR, Arkansas
With the news that the Lions are hosting him for a pre-draft visit, it’s time to take a deeper look at wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa. A big target and a Michigan native, TeSlaa (pronounced Teh-SLAAH) has become a very popular late-round projection for the Lions in mock drafts–including one of our own here.
Isaac TeSlaa, WR, Arkansas
TeSlaa started college at D-II Hillsdale and won the GMAC player of the year award in 2022, fostering a move up to Arkansas. While he was never productive for the Razorbacks, TeSlaa’s talent and athletic ability did pop off the game tape.
- Measured in at just under 6-foot-4 and 213 pounds
- 3-sport HS star at Unity Christian in Hudsonville, winning state titles in football (playing QB) and basketball and setting the school record in the long jump (over 22 feet)
- Caught 28 passes for 532 yards and 3 TDs in 2024
- Had zero drops and one fumble in two years at Arkansas and unofficially had just two drops in three seasons at Hillsdale
- Lived on the honor roll and All-Academic teams at both colleges
Games watched: Missouri, Texas, Texas A&M, Ole Miss, Senior Bowl (in person)
Positives
- Height-weight-speed athlete with high-end NFL Scouting Combine testing that shows on the field
- Natural catcher of the ball away from his frame
- Effective, high-effort blocker
- Strong and secure hands in traffic over the middle
- Creative after the catch and offers some gadget-play and return specialist versatility
- Explosive leaper with innate timing to go get the ball
Negatives
- Played almost exclusively in the slot at Arkansas but might project better as an outside receiver–which could cause transition issues at the next level
- Change of direction skills on the field don’t match his athletic testing
- Rounds his routes and his footwork lacks crispness and urgency from the slot
- Gets pushed off his line a little too easily for a bigger receiver
- Oddly short arms (31 inches) for a 6-foot-4 target
Overall
TeSlaa is a very good late-round prospect with the chance to blossom at the next level. He’s a heavy slot option, but I liked what I saw from TeSlaa during Senior Bowl week working the outside in drills, too. His blocking, attitude and dynamic athleticism are ready-made for special teams duty while TeSlaa learns the ropes as a sub-package receiver as a rookie. He’s a player I’ve known since his high school days and he’s ready to handle being a pro.
This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: Lions draft prospect profile: Isaac TeSlaa, WR, Arkansas
