After a surprising turn of events where Taylor Decker asked for and was given his release after announce he would return for an 11th NFL season, what the Detroit Lions' plan to replace their long-time left tackle is unclear.
What is clear is there aren't a lot of good left tackles available on the free agent market, as usual since teams don't give up good players at a premium position easily. Rasheed Walker, a solid but hardly great player, stood as the best left tackle available at the start of free agency, and obviously as the first week of the proceedings wound down.
I say stood because Walker is not longer available. According to multiple reports, he has agreed to a one-year contract with the Carolina Panthers. NFL insider Jordan Schultz was first to report the deal is worth "about" $10 million, and ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported the deal has a max value of $10 million.
The Panthers agreeing to terms with Walker also takes another potential landing spot away from Decker, who may have miscalculated his market value after not agreeing to an apparent significant pay cut to stay with the Lions.
Lions' inactivity in 2026 free agency is becoming troubling
A relative lack of activity for the Lions in free agency is nothing new. They subscribe to drafting and developing as their core roster building philosophy, while valuing players who "fit us" over just about all else when it comes to outside additions. Thus, they will usually lose more players than they add in free agency.
But there comes a point, in a window to win a Super Bowl despite general manager Brad Holmes loving to deny that at every opportunity, where you have to fill roster holes with proven commodities. Half-measures to fill holes, while other teams you profess to be competing with make notable moves, will not suffice.
Holmes' draft record also isn't too great the last couple years. So are we confident Decker's immediate heir apparent, or someone who can capably play right tackle immediately if Penei Sewell moves positions, will come aboard in late-April?
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And let's not talk about what's not been done to sign an edge rusher of any level thus far.
Back to Decker's departure, and the dwindling number of veteran options to replace him.
If it only took a one-year deal for "about" (let's just go with less than, or "up to") $10 million to get Walker, the Lions should have been in on that and beat it by offering $10 million or more. But alas, we're supposed to trust "the plan" when there doesn't appear to really be one in terms of making the 2026 roster as good as it can be.