Brad Holmes Made His Boldest Draft Move Yet, And We’re Still Waiting To See If It Pays Off
General manager Brad Holmes has never been shy about swinging big when he sees something he wants. Last offseason proved that once again when Detroit moved heaven and earth to get wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa on draft day.
The Lions jumped 30 spots to snag TeSlaa at the top of the third round, shipping off a pair of future picks to Jacksonville to make it happen. The cost? Detroit doesn’t even have a third-round pick in this year’s draft. That’s what you call putting your chips on the table.
The Full Trade Breakdown
Here’s exactly what went down between the Lions and Jaguars:
Detroit received the 72nd overall pick, the 182nd overall pick, and the 213th overall pick in the 2026 draft. Jacksonville walked away with the 102nd overall pick and two third-rounders in the 2026 draft, the 81st and 100th overall selections.
The Lions used that 72nd pick on TeSlaa, then flipped the 182nd pick to New England, moving up 11 spots to grab guard Miles Frazier. They still have the 213th pick coming up in this draft.
TeSlaa’s Rookie Season: Flashes, But Questions Remain
TeSlaa settled in as Detroit’s fourth receiver behind Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, and Kalif Raymond. His numbers tell the story of a role player finding his footing: 16 catches for 239 yards and six touchdowns.
Those six scores? That’s the kind of red zone production Holmes was banking on when he made this move. TeSlaa showed the deep threat ability and goal line presence that made him attractive in the first place. He’s expected to move up to the third receiver spot in 2026.
And yes, I know what you’re thinking. Those aren’t numbers that scream “worth three third-round picks.” Not yet, anyway.
What Jacksonville Did With The Haul
The Jaguars didn’t sit on their hands with Detroit’s gift. They flipped the 102nd pick, moving up 13 spots to grab guard Wyatt Milum from Minnesota, sending back a fifth-rounder and picking up a seventh in return.
They’re still sitting on those two third-rounders from the 2026 draft. Two more bites at the apple, courtesy of Allen Park.
The Verdict: Bold Move, Jury Still Out
Let’s call this what it was: a massive overpay by every trade value chart you can find. Three third-round picks for one receiver? That’s the kind of move that either looks genius in three years or gets you roasted for a decade.
Holmes clearly saw something special in TeSlaa’s size and skill set. The red zone production was real, even in a limited role. But this was considered a reach at the time, and the price tag makes every dropped pass sting a little more.
TeSlaa will get more opportunities as a second-year pro working behind Williams and St. Brown. His size in the red zone remains a major asset for an offense that can always use more touchdown threats. The talent is there.
The question is whether it’s enough to justify what Detroit gave up to get him.
Was this classic Lions overthinking or a stroke of genius we’re not seeing yet? Tell us what you think TeSlaa needs to do to make this trade worth it.
