It’s been an offseason to forget in Detroit.

We don’t need to relitigate everything that’s happened since the Lions got unceremoniously escorted out of their own house by the Commanders in this year’s NFC Divisional round, but it’s been rough. After 2-3 years of immaculate vibes, the Dan Campbell era Lions are facing a level of scrutiny not seen since those brutal early days.

The hits just keep on coming, too. The latest one can be found – although I don’t know why’d be looking in the first place – midway down a new piece on ESPN sub-titled, ‘Who was the biggest head-scratching pick of the draft?’ So that’s a great start. In the piece, the Lions make a cameo thanks to ESPN’s NFL analyst Matt Bowen, who apparently hated the Isaac TeSlaa pick. The write up is bleak. So bleak, in fact, that I wouldn’t blame you for just stopping here. You don’t need to do this to yourself. There’s a better way.

The Lions’ wide receiver gamble in this year’s NFL Draft could define the next half decade

“Wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa to the Lions (No. 70). I can see the traits with TeSlaa. He’s a 6-foot-4 target with seam-stretching ability, and he posted explosive testing numbers (4.43 40-yard dash, 39½-inch vertical). However, he is still a developing prospect, and it cost the Lions two 2026 third-rounders to trade up for him.”

Re-reading how the Lions traded multiple third round picks for a developmental guy who may not even see a ton of snaps in 2025 is such an aggressive gut punch for a Monday. I don’t think ESPN actually has any biases against certain NFL teams, but this hurts just enough to make me want to whip one up in my head. Of course, no one knows anything about how this year’s draft class is going to play out, but that doesn’t really help me feel better about the last sentence. Maybe we should go back to playing dumb about the value of draft picks? At least that way no one could ever hurt us.

At least they didn’t draft Dillion Gabriel?