Isaac TeSlaa, the Detroit Lions’ third-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, has stirred debate and not just for his surprising draft position. Despite being a relatively unknown wide receiver from Arkansas with limited college exposure, the Lions traded up to grab him, clearly seeing potential others may have missed.
So far, though, TeSlaa hasn’t had a chance to prove his value in actual NFL action. That could change soon, as he’s expected to play in Thursday night’s Hall of Fame Game against the Los Angeles Chargers. Notably, other Lions rookies like Tate Ratledge and Tyleik Williams won’t be suiting up.
Ahead of that debut, TeSlaa received a Madden NFL 26 rating of just 68, raising eyebrows among fans and analysts. While his speed rating is a solid 91, his awareness (64) and strength (65) are underwhelming putting him near the bottom tier of rookie receivers in the game.
Interestingly, he shares that 68 overall with fellow Lions rookie Ahmed Hassanein, a raw edge rusher who only started playing football four years ago. That comparison adds to the puzzlement, as TeSlaa has shown flashes of real potential as a red zone target in his limited college footage.
Among Detroit’s 2025 rookie class, defensive lineman Tyleik Williams leads the way with a 77 overall, also ranking as the strongest at 91. The fastest rookie is seventh-rounder Dominic Lovett, clocking in with a 92 speed rating.
While Madden ratings can shift during the season, major updates typically don’t occur until the following year. If TeSlaa can carve out a role in Detroit’s deep receiving corps, his current rating might just be the floor with plenty of room to rise by 2026.
