Detroit Lions tackle Taylor Decker has yet to make a decision on his NFL future, nor have the Lions made a decision on his future with the team.
However, according to NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah on a conference call, as quoted by Lions senior writer Tim Twentyman, says that it "sounds like" the Lions have "been doing a lot of homework on free agent tackles," which could signal how Decker's time with the Lions is coming to a close.
The top name on the market at the tackle position is one Lions fans have become familiar with: Rasheed Walker. Lions fans may know Walker from his early-season declaration that the then 2-0 Green Bay Packers would go "undefeated."
In true schadenfreude fashion, the Packers would go on to lose their following game to the Cleveland Browns, who would lose to the Lions the following week. The Packers finished with a 9-7-1 record and a first-round exit to the Chicago Bears.
Even so, Walker is the top free agent tackle with the Lions potentially needing one. The former seventh-round draft pick just turned 26 earlier in February, compared to Decker, who will be 33 when the 2026 NFL season kicks off.
Walker has also played all 17 games each of the past three seasons, starting all but three of those games. Decker, meanwhile, has missed eight games in that span and has only played every game in a season four times in his ten-season career.
Based on PFF grades, Walker falls short of Decker, as his overall grade (64.6) was lower than Decker's (67.9) for the 2025 season. That discrepancy primarily comes from Walker's inferior run-blocking grade (55.4) compared to Decker's (62.1). On the flipside, Walker's pass blocking grade (70.0) is a fraction higher than Decker's (69.5).
For those who value PFF's grades, that doesn't sound exciting for an offensive line that needs major upgrades after a poor showing this past season. Yet someone's got to play left tackle, whether it's Decker, a new backup after Dan Skipper's retirement, or someone brought in this offseason.
Bringing in a guy who can provide similar pass blocking to Decker, but younger and without a lengthy injury history, is not a bad plan at all. Especially someone the Lions are already well familiar with via years of watching tape on the Packers' offense.
Walker will be costly for the money-tight Lions
The major caveat to signing Walker is, well, signing him. He's the top OT on the free agent market, and the Lions won't be the only ones eying them.
On The Athletic's list of the top 150 free agents, they ranked Walker as the #13 free agent, with a projected contract of four-years and $82 million. That's a hefty price for a Lions team that, currently, doesn't have much funding to work with.
They could free up space with restructures and cuts, but the 2023 draft class, headlined by running back Jahmyr Gibbs, is also due for an extension. Lions have to take that into account when exploring long-term deals with anyone.
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There's also the big elephant in the room of OT not being the only need on the OL. The Lions also need a center, with Tyler Linderbaum also headlining the 2026 free agent class. If the Lions do pursue a top offensive lineman, chances are, it'll be a one-or-the-other situation. Both would be fantastic, and as always, never say never, but it'll be tough enough to sign one, let alone both.
Given the Lions' emphasis on the run game, Linderbaum figures to be the direction they go if they do find themselves making this choice. But it's unknown if the Lions are checking out centers, or if they're even looking at Walker and the other top of the free agent OTs. Maybe they're looking for a Skipper replacement as a backup.
That being said, landing a top offensive lineman like Walker would be a perfect start to what has to be a busy offseason for the Super Bowl contenders.