PHOENIX – Wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa caught just 16 passes for the Detroit Lions as a rookie but six of those went for touchdowns.
There was significant growth from TeSlaa from the start of his first season to the end.
"We really like TeSlaa. We feel like he's taken off," head coach Dan Campbell said at Annual League Meetings this week. "You'd be hard-pressed to say that he didn't make the most growth of any rookie."
Campbell was quick to mention the growth he saw from rookie defensive lineman Tyleik Williams and right guard Tate Ratledge, big contributors for Detroit in their first seasons, but he is also really high on TeSlaa's potential moving forward.
"It's not easy for a receiver. It's not easy for any of them – but all that we've asked of him. There were some games we lost (Amon-Ra St. Brown), he had to go in and play that position," Campbell said of TeSlaa. "You know, second play of the game have to go do all of it. So, we like him. He's got a bright future for us."
Detroit gave up significant draft capital, including two 2026 third-round picks, to select TeSlaa in the third round of last year's NFL Draft. He is expected to have a bigger role in Detroit's offense in his second season as part of a talented trio of receivers in Detroit with All-Pro St. Brown and back-to-back 1,000-yard receiver Jameson Williams.
TeSlaa could slot into the No. 3 role with veteran Kalif Raymond leaving in free agency. TeSlaa played in 17 games and 436 snaps (40 percent) as a rookie and is expected to see that number increase heading into his second season.
Lions quarterback Jared Goff built a rapport with TeSlaa last season when he became a trusted target in the red zone for the veteran quarterback. Players typically take their biggest jump in production from Year 1 to Year 2, and TeSlaa said after the season he has a clear goal of what he plans to work on this offseason to take the next step.
"The biggest thing is just quickness and separation, adding just a little bit more to my game will really help," TeSlaa said.
View photos of NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah's updated ranking of his Top 50 prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft.
No. 1 QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
No. 2 RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame
No. 3 LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State
No. 4 EDGE David Bailey, Texas Tech
No. 5 EDGE Arvell Reese, Ohio State
No. 6 WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State
No. 7 EDGE Rueben Bain Jr., Miami
No. 8 CB Mansoor Delane, LSU
No. 9 S Caleb Downs, Ohio State
No. 10 OT Francis Mauigoa, Miami
No. 11 OL Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State
No. 12 WR Makai Lemon, USC
No. 13 OL Spencer Fano, Utah
No. 14 TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon
No. 15 CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee
No. 16 S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo
No. 17 S Dillon Thieneman, Oregon
No. 18 WR Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana
No. 19 OT Blake Miller, Clemson
No. 20 OT Monroe Freeling, Georgia
No. 21 WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State
No. 22 OT Kadyn Proctor, Alabama
No. 23 EDGE Akheem Mesidor, Miami
No. 24 EDGE T.J. Parker, Clemson
No. 25 CB Colton Hood, Tennessee
No. 26 OT Caleb Lomu, Utah
No. 27 WR Denzel Boston, Washington
No. 28 EDGE Cashius Howell, Texas A&M
No. 29 WR KC Concepcion, Texas A&M
No. 30 LB CJ Allen, Georgia
No. 31 EDGE Keldric Faulk, Auburn
No. 32 LB Anthony Hill Jr., Texas
No. 33 DT Kayden McDonald, Ohio State
No. 34 CB Avieon Terrell, Clemson
No. 35 OT Max Iheanachor, Arizona State
No. 36 DT Lee Hunter, Texas Tech
No. 37 DT Peter Woods, Clemson
No. 38 QB Ty Simpson, Alabama
No. 39 RB Jadarian Price, Notre Dame
No. 40 CB Chris Johnson, San Diego State
No. 41 LB Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech
No. 42 DT Caleb Banks, Florida
No. 43 CB Brandon Cisse, South Carolina
No. 44 CB Keionte Scott, Miami
No. 45 EDGE Zion Young, Missouri
No. 46 EDGE Malachi Lawrence. UCF
No. 47 OL Keylan Rutledge, Georgia Tech
No. 48 WR Antonio Williams, Clemson
No. 49 EDGE R Mason Thomas, Oklahoma
No. 50 WR Germie Bernard, Alabama
That ability to get off the line of scrimmage quicker and separate from coverage to go along with a big frame and sure hands could make TeSlaa a tough cover.
It's that big frame and catch radius that has Campbell most excited about what TeSlaa could bring to Detroit's offense under new OC Drew Petzing, who has a track record of exploiting favorable matchups in his offense.
"His hair," Campbell joked when asked what TeSlaa's best attribute is. "He can do it all. He's tough, he's big. I would say catch radius. That's one of the best things, his body control and catch radius. That's kind of his trick, man. We like him a lot."
