The Detroit Lions might be one of the more robust contenders in the NFL, but they are far from a bunch of ring-chasing veterans looking to get the most out of one season. Detroit has a good blend of young players trying to push those veterans for playing time.
While the benefit of being a contending team means that the Lions have many of their projected starters set in stone without the need for longer camp battles, there could be one or two rookies that end up displacing a more established veteran early in their careers.
Despite the fact that the Lions took him in the third round, there's a very real chance that rookie wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa ends up becoming a big part of the Detroit offense. Detroit's current depth chart could provide him with an opportunity to knock a veteran player off his established pedestal.
TeSlaa will be fighting with veteran Tim Patrick for snaps in his rookie season. Even if Patrick is ahead of him nominally on the depth chart, TeSlaa may end up using his immense physical talent to overtake a player like Patrick, who is clearly on the back nine of his career.
Isaac TeSlaa could overtake Tim Patrick on Lions depth chart
TeSlaa wasn't even the No. 1 wide receiver on his college team at Arkansas, as Dolphins UDFA Andrew Armstrong held that title. Even after tallying just 28 catches, TeSlaa's otherworldly athletic workout numbers were enough to convince Holmes to take the plunge and trade up to No. 70 overall.
Patrick had some interest from other teams in the offseason, especially from a New York Jets team led by his old Lions buddy in Aaron Glenn and Broncos executive Darren Mougey. However, he chose to return to the Lions with his eyes on a championship.
Patrick has struggled to stay healthy over the last few years, and his speed is nowhere near what the 6-3 TeSlaa is flexing on a regular basis. There's a very good chance that Patrick, who caught 33 passes for 394 yards and three touchdowns last year, runs out of steam in what will be his age-32 season.
Patrick's ability to haul in tough catches will essentially be matched against TeSlaa's verticality. It will be up to new offensive coordinator John Morton to decide which trait would be a better fit for his offense and a more reliable target for Jared Goff.