DETROIT — At first glance, it looked needlessly bold, potentially wasteful. Why would Brad Holmes trade future picks to climb 32 spots in the third round to grab a receiver who began his college career at Division II Hillsdale and played his final two seasons at Arkansas, tallying 28 catches for 545 yards as a senior.

Why, with so many apparent needs on defense, would the Lions use more draft capital on an offense that led the NFL in scoring last season? And why, indeed, did they target a guy with such modest numbers from such a modest background?

Holmes isn’t big on modesty or prevailing opinions. And his knack for knocking on unconventional doors is occasionally risky, but often fruitful.

So far in training camp, Isaac TeSlaa is delivering sharp answers. After a slow start, he’s increasingly noticeable, and not just for the mane of hair flowing out of his helmet. He made tough touchdown grabs in the Lions’ past two preseason games, using his speed to get open and his size to get physical.

NFL training camps can be havens for hyperbole, where third-round picks might draw raves only to wind up on the practice squad. TeSlaa has a chance to be different, and he isn’t alone at receiver. Undrafted Jackson Meeks — from Syracuse after three seasons at Georgia — has 11 catches for 176 yards and two touchdowns, including a 68-yarder, in three preseason games.

TeSlaa has eight receptions for 105 yards, including an 18-yard touchdown from Kyle Allen against the Dolphins on Saturday. Allen has virtually cemented himself as the No. 2 quarterback over Hendon Hooker, who was drafted in the third round in 2023 and looks like a gamble that won’t pay off.

Putting a charge in Lions

The third round seems to be Holmes’ hit-and-miss sweet spot. He has drafted so well at the top, he can take chances there, although TeSlaa is looking less and less like a risk. He’s in the mix for a significant role because of his unique skill set and a competitive demeanor that fits the Lions’ culture. Also because he fights for the ball and for space.

“You see a really gritty, tough physical guy,” Holmes said on the TV broadcast of the Lions’ 24-17 loss to the Dolphin s. “He has a sense of humility, knows what he needs to work on, but you just love the confidence that he has. It’s really cool that he emulates his style of football from what we’ve been displaying the past few years.”

It’s natural for TeSlaa, who grew up a Lions fan in Hudsonville, Mich., where he led his high school team to a state championship while playing quarterback. When he visited for a pre-draft interview, he brought his childhood Lions jersey, and wowed Holmes and Dan Campbell with his confident charm.

He’s showing more snarl than charm on the field, where he’s a feisty blocker. During joint practices last week, he got into a scrap with Dolphins cornerback Jack Jones.

Teslaa has looked electric at times (get used to the name games, people!). Holmes’ surprise trade up — essentially surrendering three third-round picks to Jacksonville — is looking better, potentially making the Lions deeper. TeSlaa is talking it in long strides with his 6-4, 214-pound frame.

“The way I catch the ball, the way I block, I’ve gotten a lot of praise for that,” TeSlaa said. “I’m just trying to grind it out and earn the respect of the veterans.”

The veteran quarterback, Jared Goff, said TeSlaa “has done great.” The veteran coach, Campbell, said TeSlaa has steadily climbed.

“I would say ever since we put pads on, he’s been trending this way,” Campbell said, lifting his arm on an incline. “He blocks on the perimeter, he’s making big catches over the top of people. His route detail is getting much better."

And the competition is getting much tighter in the crowded receiver room. The Lions like the physicality of Meeks, who’s 6-2, 218, and are intrigued by Dominic Lovett, their seventh-round pick from Georgia who has missed time with an abdominal injury.

There’s one more preseason game Saturday against Houston after a joint practice with the Texans on Thursday. The offense has so many playmakers, the Lions have to be creative to use them all. New coordinator John Morton is planning to play Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery together, sometimes running, sometimes receiving, sometimes deceiving.

There’s always room for playmakers, and the Lions might opt to keep six receivers: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Tim Patrick, Kalif Raymond, TeSlaa and Meeks. Patrick has been injured and TeSlaa is pushing hard for the No. 3 spot, possibly earning a few snaps with the first team.

“The more he proves he can do some things for us, the more opportunities he’s going to get to be with Goff,” Campbell said Monday. “At some point, we’re going to need him.”

Fast favorite

TeSlaa was an inside slot receiver at Arkansas but is working outside with the Lions to take advantage of his speed. He struggles at times to separate from defensive backs but fights for contested catches, using his big body to box out defenders.

Holmes’ first impression came at the NFL combine, where TeSlaa excelled, posting a 9.97 RAS (Relative Athletic Score), highest of all receivers. RAS is a number-crunching mechanism that combines a player’s physical attributes with testing metrics, then weighs them against other prospects. Not included in the equation: Game statistics or the famously vague “eye test.”

TeSlaa didn’t pile up stats or open a lot of eyes in college, which is why he was projected to tumble to the fifth or sixth round. Holmes loves risers disguised as tumblers, and when asked about his picks after the draft, he explained what he saw.

“The pick that was probably the most questioned, I would say, was Isaac TeSlaa," Holmes said. “I can say that he was my favorite wide receiver in this draft. I'm not saying he was the best wide receiver in the draft. But favorite wide receiver in the draft? Yes."

Holmes talked about his biggest draft regret, that he didn’t make a move for an under-the-radar receiver named Puka Nacua in 2023. The Rams grabbed him in the fifth round and Nacua merely piled up 1,486 receiving yards as a rookie.

Holmes didn’t hesitate this time after seeing TeSlaa’s aptitude and attitude at the Senior Bowl. TeSlaa laughed when reminded of his GM’s praise, quickly noting the distinction.

“He said I wasn’t the most talented receiver, he said I was his favorite,” TeSlaa said, smiling. “I mean, that’s fair.”

You’d think joining an elite offense already heavily populated would be daunting for a guy from a humble football background. TeSlaa shakes it off with understated confidence. When fans aren’t oohing over Williams and St. Brown in practice, they’re aahing over the new guy.

That’s how it works in the NFL’s days of hype, and TeSlaa is trying to keep it in perspective. It’s not easy when social media poets are busily creating nicknames to spotlight his unique traits. One in particular is fairly cringey, and also fairly funny. It turns TeSlaa into “ColeSlaa” for odd reasons, a stretch even I can’t make.

“Yeah, that’s not my favorite,” TeSlaa said. “But I think they’re all fun.”

Coleslaw is a side dish, and it’s way too early to consider TeSlaa a main dish. But it’s safe to say, he’s earning a spot on the plate.

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