Pete Overzet called Isaac TeSlaa a perfectly acceptable Round-17/18 dart throw because Detroit’s offense is too efficient to ignore any cheap pass-catcher who might climb the depth chart. He pointed out that Jameson Williams continues to give off "weird vibes," leaving only Josh Reynolds and Kalif Raymond between TeSlaa and meaningful snaps. The Lions ranked top-5 in EPA per play and red-zone pass rate last year, so even a part-time role could translate into usable spike weeks. Overzet noted the team traded up to bring TeSlaa in and that the rookie’s contested-catch profile meshes with Jared Goff’s tendency to target big bodies near the goal line (David Montgomery saw 38 red-zone carries, Sam LaPorta 26 red-zone targets). Bottom line: with little blocking his path and Detroit projected for another season of offensive fireworks, TeSlaa offers asymmetric playoff upside at virtually no opportunity cost.

Hayden Winks said undrafted rookie Isaac TeSlaa is the one Lions wide-out he’s willing to fire late-round bullets on. Winks noted Detroit’s outside-receiver depth chart is paper thin behind Jameson Williams, creating a clear snap path if the team keeps Amon-Ra St. Brown locked into the slot. TeSlaa brings a rare slot-to-perimeter profile—6'2", 215 with plus athletic testing—after handling interior duties in college. Although the 23-year-old logged only 28 collegiate receptions, Winks thinks the size/speed combo gives him a legitimate chance to win an outside job in camp and become the low-cost way to get exposure to Ben Johnson’s high-TD offense. Winks called him a classic Best Ball Mania dart: cheap, unblocked contingent upside on a top-five scoring unit.

Andy Holloway touted Isaac TeSlaa as the ideal late-round rookie draft lottery ticket. Detroit traded two future third-round picks to snag the 6-4, 214-pound receiver after he blazed a 4.30 forty, giving him a 99th-percentile speed score. Although TeSlaa never topped 600 yards at Arkansas and posted a microscopic 13.4 % targets-per-route rate—the lowest for any Day-1/2 wideout in the last 11 drafts—Holloway trusts Brad Holmes’ evaluation track record and pointed to Dan Campbell’s emphasis on size/speed mismatches. With no long-term commitment to Jameson Williams and only depth behind Amon-Ra St. Brown, Holloway sees a 2026 starting-X path if TeSlaa refines his route tree. He advised spending a late third-round rookie pick or a final best-ball slot on TeSlaa, comparing the bet to early shares of Terry McLaurin and Kenny Golladay before their breakouts.

Danny Kelly advised fading Isaac Tesla in rookie drafts and late-round best ball despite Detroit surrendering both of its 2025 third-round picks to snag him at No. 102. Kelly labeled the move a classic case of chasing raw athleticism—Tesla is a 96th-percentile size-speed tester—without the collegiate production to back it up. The former D-II transfer managed only 657 yards and three TDs in his lone SEC season, posted a sub-20 percent target share for his career, and turns 24 before Week 1. Kelly pointed out that since 2010 only two wideouts with sub-1.8 yards per route run and age 23 rookie seasons have produced a 1,000-yard NFL campaign. Detroit’s existing target tree funnels through Amon-Ra St. Brown, Sam LaPorta, and Jameson Williams, leaving Tesla no better than fourth in line even if he develops. Kelly’s bottom line: bet on profiles that showed they could earn volume in college, let someone else chase the workout-warrior narrative, and reserve Tesla for nothing more than a watch-list stash in deep dynasty leagues.

Trevor Sikkema said dynasty gamers should not let the Lions’ aggressive trade-up scare them off Isaac Tesla. Detroit surrendered both of its 2025 third-rounders to leap 16 spots, a move Sikkema labeled an unnecessary overpay given comparable receivers such as Jalen Royals, Elyle-O-Maynor and Pat Bryant were still on the board at 102. That said, Sikkema had Tesla graded higher than consensus because of his 96th-percentile size-adjusted explosion and a 2.94 yards-per-route-run figure that ranked top-10 in FBS last season. He believes Tesla’s fluid fit in Ben Johnson’s vertical play-action scheme and above-average athleticism give the rookie a realistic shot at seizing Detroit’s WR3 job by mid-season. The Lions’ thin depth chart behind Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams means Tesla could see 60–70 targets as soon as Year 1—enough to justify a third-round rookie-draft pick and late-round best-ball darts even if the real-life trade value was shaky.