Isaac TeSlaa, the Detroit Lions’ promising rookie wide receiver, is facing intense scrutiny after a highlight video of his performance at the team’s rookie minicamp surfaced. The 23-year-old Arkansas product, who was selected in the third round of the NFL Draft after the Lions traded up 32 spots, was immediately put under the microscope.
The video, which showed TeSlaa making a reception while besting a defensive back, prompted Bleacher Report draft analyst to sharply critique his skills. “This can’t be inspiring if you’re a fan of the Detroit Lions,” the analyst said, sparking a wave of reaction across social media.
One of the primary concerns surrounding TeSlaa is his ability to create separation from defenders off the line of scrimmage. Draft experts have pointed out that his limited success in this area could be problematic, especially since he’ll be facing more physical defensive backs at the next level.
Dane Brugler, a well-known draft analyst, offered a critical evaluation of TeSlaa’s college career, citing his “unimpressive two-year production in the SEC.” Despite possessing size and speed, TeSlaa struggled with press coverage and early contact. Moreover, Brugler noted that he was not asked to run a full route tree in his role during the 2024 season.
However, TeSlaa’s supporters quickly defended him on social media, reminding everyone that the rookie’s development is still in its early stages. They argued that analyzing one play from a rookie minicamp is not a fair measure of his future potential. Some users even ridiculed draft analysts, dismissing their early critiques as unfounded, with one saying, “There are people seeing this and complaining about the lack of separation. That’s how you know that you can just ignore their player evaluation about the receiver position.”
Despite this support, criticism continued to flow. A draft analyst shared their disappointment, claiming, “Fans don’t like to be told their team made the worst trade-up and reach in the entire NFL Draft, but that’s exactly what the Lions did with TeSlaa.”
As the debate rages on, the jury is still out on whether TeSlaa will live up to the Lions’ expectations. With the draft still fresh in everyone’s minds, the former Arkansas wideout’s performance in future camps will be closely monitored.
