Isaac TeSlaa is about to make his weird Madden rating look silly

Madden released their ratings for all NFL players ahead of the 2025 season, and the Detroit Lions had many players atop the league in speed, accuracy, and strength. However, they didn't get many rookies who received the benefit of the doubt from Madden's ratings system.

Their top two picks, Tyleik Williams and Tate Ratledge, scored out with ratings of 77 and 71, respectively. Miles Frazier, who won't be suiting up this year due to injury, landed higher than TeSlaa. And, pass rusher Ahmed Hassanein snagged a 68 rating, equivalent to TeSlaa's.

Hassanein, as we saw in training camp and in the preseason, has the tools to become a strong pass rusher but still has to work his way towards being more technical and calculated as a playmaker. TeSlaa, as we also saw in training camp and preseason, looks like an ideal WR3 ready to be tested fairly heavily against starting caliber defenses.

So, should be be at a 68?

TeSlaa is about to make Madden's rating look silly

TeSlaa wrapped up the preseason as the Lions' leading touchdown scorer in the air, snagging three from Kyle Allen over four games. He also finished up with 146 receiving yards on 10 receptions, and with an average of 14.6 yards per reception.

He's not unseating the likes of Amon-Ra St. Brown or Jameson Williams anytime soon, but he is the ideal WR3 you want stretching the field and blocking for your intended targets downfield.

TeSlaa is also just a rookie. Detroit is too good to be giving rookies large chances as starters to begin their seasons, as they're looking to build momentum towards contention. But, if Tim Patrick isn't able to step up this year as he did in 2024, then TeSlaa will be breathing down his neck.

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If TeSlaa can hit his stride this year as the Lions' WR3, we should expect to see him touch anywhere between 400-600 receiving yards and at least 5-7 touchdowns from Jared Goff. That calls for a much higher rating than a 68. He should be hovering closer to a 78 for that sort of predicted effort. He should also be the Lions' best rookie by way of playmaking opportunites compared to that of Ratledge and Williams.

Expectations are suddenly sky high for the rookie receiver, who is drawing comparisons to star receiver Puka Nacua. If he can just be productive when called upon, that's enough to warrant a major boost in his Madden stock for next year's edition of the video game rankings.

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