Isaac TeSlaa could be the key to the Lions landing a starting cornerback this season
Detroit’s own coaches just acknowledged that opportunities for its second-year receiver will be limited. With outside corner still a major need, that creates a trade conversation worth having.
The Detroit Lions need a cornerback. Lions fans have been clamoring for a trade for weeks, and the front office almost certainly wants to make a move. The problem is timing. It’s Week 2, and most teams still don’t know what they are yet. Why would anyone trade away a starter this early? But on Wednesday, an extra element got added to this whole equation, and that element is wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa.
In the 2025 NFL Draft, Detroit went in needing a receiver. We all knew it. Every mock draft had a wideout going to the Lions. I thought Pat Bryant, who wound up with the Denver Broncos, was the perfect fit. Instead, the Lions packaged two third-round picks and traded up for TeSlaa, a kid from Arkansas with Senior Bowl buzz and solid blocking ability. You could see how he fit, but even at the time, it felt like a player who might need a minute.
Here we are in Year 2, and through two games, we’ve seen basically nothing. TeSlaa has played 101 snaps, been targeted twice, and made one catch for short yardage. His run-blocking grade sits at 50.5, per PFF. That’s not good. And when the Lions hired Drew Petzing as offensive coordinator, it made the fit even trickier. Detroit wants to run heavier personnel. That means fewer wide receivers on the field. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Jahmyr Gibbs, Sam LaPorta, Sione Vaki, Tyler Conklin, and Brock Wright are all getting targets. Where does TeSlaa fit?
Scottie Montgomery confirmed the issue
On Tuesday, Lions wide receiver coach Scottie Montgomery put it plainly. He said TeSlaa’s opportunities are going to be limited because of how the offense is built, whether at tight end, wideout, or in the backfield. His targets are going to be situational: fourth down, red zone, third down. The progression has to work all the way to him, and he has to make those plays when they come.
There’s value in that role, but it’s also something LaPorta can do. It’s something St. Brown can do. It’s something Tay Martin can do, and Martin brings a ton of special teams value on top of it. So if the Lions aren’t going to use TeSlaa, and they clearly have a need at cornerback, then TeSlaa might be the key to unlocking that trade. He should be traded. It’s as simple as that.
This isn’t about TeSlaa being a bad player. I feel bad for the kid. He’s on his hometown team, the team he grew up watching, the team he probably dreamt of playing for. But he has a better NFL future somewhere else. So I started looking around. Who needs receiver help and has a cornerback they might be willing to move?
Mike Jackson, Carolina Panthers
Carolina is probably the easiest team to understand here. Jackson is 29 years old and in the final year of his contract. If the Panthers fall out of contention, they have to decide whether to lose him for nothing or turn him into something. TeSlaa gives them a 24-year-old receiver under contract through 2028 who could grow alongside Bryce Young and Tetairoa McMillan. Detroit could add a late-round pick if needed.
Jackson fits Detroit because he’s an actual outside corner coming off a strong season with four interceptions and 19 pass breakups. He has the size to play on the boundary and gives the Lions someone they can trust opposite D.J. Reed. The best part is the cost. Detroit would only inherit the remaining portion of his 2026 salary, making him extremely affordable. Then he becomes a free agent, so there’s almost no long-term financial risk. This is the type of low-risk deal you could see Brad Holmes making.
Tyson Campbell, Cleveland Browns
Cleveland would be making this move because of roster construction. The Browns already have Denzel Ward on a huge deal. Campbell is also expensive going forward, and if their season falls apart, they could decide they don’t need that much money tied up in two outside corners. TeSlaa gives them a cheap, young receiver with upside.
This one is harder to pull off. Detroit would probably have to send TeSlaa plus something like a third-round pick because Campbell is only 26 and under contract through 2028. Campbell is the biggest upside swing of the three. He’s 6-foot-1, athletic, and has experience playing press, man, and multiple zone coverages. Detroit would get him cheaply for the rest of 2026, with Cleveland keeping the old bonus money, and then he’s scheduled to cost roughly $16 million in 2027 and $16.5 million in 2028. You’re paying more in trade compensation and salary, but you’re potentially solving outside corner for 2-plus seasons. It’s one to keep an eye on.
So which one makes the most sense?
The one you want is Tyson Campbell because he’s 26 and locked up for two more years after this season at a reasonable price. But is Cleveland actually willing to trade him? That I don’t know. Mike Jackson is the most realistic, low-cost option of the two. There could also be some other options coming down the pike at some point, and there’s always the Joey Porter possibility.
The Lions have a receiver who isn’t getting used on a team that doesn’t need him. They have a glaring hole at cornerback. TeSlaa could be the bridge between those two realities, and Brad Holmes should be exploring every one of these calls.
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