Taylor Decker made it clear he would consider retirement as last season wound down, but once he declared he was coming back for his 11th season with the Detroit Lions that appeared to be the end of it.
Well, not so much. Decker announced he has asked for and been granted his release after contract talks broke down. "Contract talks" is code for they asked him to take a pay cut, and Decker confirmed as much to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
"Decker confirmed by text message that his decision was partly about money. The Lions wanted him to take a cut from the $14.9 base salary he was due this fall. The two sides could not agree on a new contract."
To be fair, Decker had no fully guaranteed salary in the final two years of his contract, with a $1.5 milion roster bonus due to him on March 15. So the contract talks likely included some conversation about getting him some additional guaranteed money this year.
With his decision to ask for his release, Decker/his agent presumably believes he can get more than what the Lions were slated to pay him this year on the open market. Spotrac clearly agrees, tabbing his market value at $21.3 million per year on a projected two-year deal.
The question is if another team will commit more than one year to a player who clearly considered retirement entering the offseason, and who has openly acknowledged a chronically injured shoulder might not be all the way right until he's no longer playing. And if he gets a two-year deal, the second-year is sure to carry little or no money guaranteed at signing.
That said, there is always a premium on left tackles and Decker has been as solid and consistent as it gets over the last 10 seasons.
Here are five potential landing spots for Decker as he exits Detroit.
5 potential landing spots for Taylor Decker after his Lions' exit
5. Cleveland Browns
Decker is likely to prioritize signing with a contender, and the Browns are clearly not that. But they are also looking at a complete overhaul of their offensive line, and they started that process by acquiring offensive tackle Tytus Howard from the Houston Texans.
If no better options come his way, Decker could return to his home state to finish his career.
4. Green Bay Packers
Rasheed Walker is lined up to get overpaid in free agency, so if the Packers don't pony up like other teams might they will left to pivot for a left tackle. Decker is now one of the best other options out there, and he might like the revenge angle of playing the Lions twice a year.
READ MORE: Lions have a sneaky great FA target in search for David Montgomery's replacement
3. Carolina Panthers
After winning the NFC South last season, the Panthers gave the Los Angeles Rams a test before falling short in the Wild Card Round. They also lost left tackle Ikem Ekwonu to a ruptured patellar tendon in his right knee during that game, and head coach Dave Canales acknowledged how that would impact the team's offseason plan.
"It is something we have to consider, knowing we're going to go through a full offseason -- what's the timeline, how does that affect training camp, roster numbers and all of that,'' Canales said, via ESPN's David Newton.
The Panthers, at minimum, need a capable stopgap at left tackle so they can get a fair evaluation of Bryce Young next season before committing long-term to him or not. Decker could be the ideal solution.
2. Houston Texans
C.J. Stroud's decline has been in direct correlation to the drop-off in his pass protection over the last couple seasons. Yet, somehow, the Texans have already traded another capable offensive tackle with the aforementioned deal to send Tytus Howard to Cleveland.
What exactly the Texans' plan is to field a passable offensive line is hard to see, but at the tackle spots it looks to be second-year man Aireontae Ersery at left tackle and the re-signed Trent Brown to replace Howard at right tackle. A better plan at right tackle should be on the radar though, up to and including moving Ersery there and filling left tackle with someone else.
If the price is right, Decker would seem to be in the Texans' wheelhouse at left tackle as they look to get Stroud back on track next season.
1. Chicago Bears
The moment the news of Decker's release came, the whole world seemed to mention the Bears as a potential landing spot for him.
And it absolutely makes sense. With Ozzy Trapilo's status heading toward next season in doubt after he suffered a ruptured patellar tendon in the playoffs, the Bears are in the market for a left tackle. Most likely, they're looking for a short-term option while Trapilo works through his recovery.
Decker also of course has significant history with Bears head coach Ben Johnson. The two overlapped in Detroit for six seasons (2019-2024), including all three of Johnson's seasons as the offensive coordinator. So the system fit should be seamless, which is important as the Bears try to keep their momentum from last season rolling.
Add the revenge angle (after he was surprised about the way the Lions handled his situation) to teaming up with Johnson, and Decker-to-the-Bears could happen very quickly.