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The Detroit Lions are ready to make up for lost time during the 2025 NFL season. Detroit had arguably its best season in franchise history in 2024. Unfortunately, it did not amount to any success in the postseason. Now the Lions are motivated to get back to the playoffs and take another shot at finally getting to the Super Bowl.
Lions GM Brad Holmes made several moves to improve the roster this offseason. Holmes has often made the right choice over the past four years, but he does not have a flawless record. The same is true for Holmes’ 2025 offseason moves, both in free agency and the 2025 NFL Draft.
Detroit re-signed several of their own players in free agency and brought in a few others. This will give the Lions solid depth across the board, hopefully shielding them from injury. The Lions also added some talented players in the draft, including a few guys who could have significant roles in Week 1.
But no offseason is ever perfect. It is extremely unlikely that ever move the Lions made over the past few months will work out.
But which of those moves have the greatest chance of not working?
Below we will explore three of the riskiest moves the Lions made during the 2025 NFL offseason.
The Lions certainly ruffled some feathers when they selected Arkansas WR Isaac TeSlaa in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Holmes was not shy about admitting that TeSlaa was his favorite receiver in the entire draft.
“I do love all of them… I’ll give you this, though: The pick that was probably the most questioned, I would say, was Isaac TeSlaa. I can say that he was my favorite wide receiver in this draft,” Holmes said after the 2025 NFL Draft. “I’m not saying he was the best wide receiver in the draft. But favorite wide receiver in the draft? Yes.”
Detroit had limited depth behind Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, so why was this move hated so much? And what makes it so risky?
The answer is the price it cost to acquire TeSlaa.
The Lions traded two future third-round picks to the Jaguars in order to move up 32 spots in the third round. Detroit did get a pair of sixth-round picks in return, but it is still a huge price tag even factoring in those picks.
The high cost of trading up, plus TeSlaa being a relatively unheralded player, makes this move look incredibly risky.
TeSlaa will face huge expectations because of Holmes’ aggressive move to trade up for him.
Ultimately, Lions fans will be okay with this move if TeSlaa becomes a consistent starter in the future. But that is a huge if.
The Lions were connected with edge rushers throughout the offseason.
Many NFL analysts expected the Lions to aggressively fix their edge rusher position after...
