What Dominic Lovett's college tape reveals about what the Lions are getting in the rookie receiver
Allen Park — The Detroit Lions didn’t have an immediate need for receiving depth ahead of the 2025 NFL draft. After re-signing veteran Tim Patrick in free agency, the team is set to bring back its top four options from the previous season, keeping quarterback Jared Goff’s arsenal intact.
Still, there was a lingering necessity to address the future. Denver letting Patrick go ahead of last season was a godsend for the Lions, who had struggled to find a big-bodied, X-type receiver to round out the corps during the offseason. Yet, on the cusp of his 32nd birthday, he remains a stopgap solution.
Additionally, versatile backup and return man Kalif Raymond is entering the final year of his contract and will turn 31 during training camp. Meanwhile, general manager Brad Holmes has hinted that the team might not be able to afford to retain budding star Jameson Williams when his contract expires after the 2026 season.
So, in hindsight, it wasn’t surprising the Lions showed some urgency to snag Isaac TeSlaa on the draft’s second day, moving up 32 spots to land the Michigan native with a rare combination of size (6-foot-4) and elite athleticism. He’s in need of some development, but can reasonably be penciled in to replace much of Patrick’s workload starting next season.
Regardless, the Lions weren’t done adding to the room. The day after selecting TeSlaa, the Lions used a seventh-round choice on Georgia’s Dominic Lovett. Obviously, there are far fewer expectations with picks at that stage in the draft. Still, Detroit has mined some key pieces on Day 3 during Holmes’ tenure, headlined by All-Pro receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown.
So what did the Lions see in Lovett? We reviewed the tape from several of his games last season to understand what the team is getting.
Games watched
Every 2023 target and 2024 matchups at Kentucky, vs. Florida, at Texas, vs. Notre Dame (playoffs)