The Detroit Lions made one of the most unexpected moves in the NFL Draft by trading up to select Arkansas wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa. The team jumped nearly a full round to draft the 6-foot-4, 214-pound pass-catcher at No. 70 overall. It raised eyebrows, especially since Dane Brugler of The Athletic projected TeSlaa as a fifth- or sixth-rounder in his scouting report, The Beast.

Though many questioned the pick, Lions GM Brad Holmes had his reasons—and if TeSlaa lives up to his potential, Detroit could walk away with a major steal.

On Wednesday morning, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler broke down the Lions’ draft strategy and explained the logic behind moving up for TeSlaa. While the trade seemed like a reach, Fowler pointed to the Hula Bowl and Arkansas’ QB issues as key reasons Detroit took interest.

“If TeSlaa hadn’t received that Hula Bowl invite, his draft stock would likely have been much lower,” Fowler wrote. “But after scouts saw him in person, they lined up interviews and dug into why his numbers at Arkansas were limited. It wasn’t a matter of character—he impressed everyone, including Lions GM Brad Holmes, who called him his favorite player in the draft. Many believe his stats suffered due to a lack of chemistry and inexperience under center.”

TeSlaa didn’t post elite stats at Arkansas, tallying 62 receptions for 896 yards and five touchdowns over two years, with 28 catches for 545 yards and three scores last season. He also played in two different systems, under Dan Enos in 2023 and Bobby Petrino in 2024.

TeSlaa also dealt with instability at quarterback. K.J. Jefferson started 12 games in 2023 but threw for just 2,107 yards, 19 touchdowns, and eight picks. After Jefferson transferred to UCF, Taylen Green stepped in and threw for 3,154 yards, 15 touchdowns, and nine interceptions in 13 games.

The lack of big passing numbers meant TeSlaa didn’t have many opportunities to build a top-tier résumé. Still, Holmes said TeSlaa “showed great maturity” during interviews and called him his “favorite receiver” in the draft, according to Dave Birkett of The Detroit Free Press.

Ultimately, TeSlaa sold himself well enough to convince a team to take a shot. Now it’s up to him to make sure Brad Holmes’s belief pays off.