Things can change very quickly in the NFL. Less than two weeks after announcing he was returning for an 11th season, Detroit Lions left tackle Taylor Decker announced he had asked for and was granted his release.
A first-round pick in 2016, Decker was the longest-tenured Lion by a good margin after Frank Ragnow's retirement. It had been assumed he'd spend his entire career as a Lion, with his decision to postpone retirement for at least one more year interlaced with the expectation he would not be in another uniform.
But ultimately, as could've been expected when considering the entire circumstance, the Lions reportedly asked Decker to take a pay cut and talks went so badly on that front he asked to be released.
So, "It's not personal, it's business" and Decker will look weird in another uniform next season.
The Lions' plan to replace Taylor Decker better be good
Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report has included Decker among his seven salary cap casualties teams will regret.
"To be fair, offensive tackle Taylor Decker asked the Detroit Lions for his release, and the Lions granted his request—trying to hold him hostage might have been just as much of a misstep as releasing him."
"According to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, however, Detroit approached Decker about taking a "steep" pay cut before his release request."
"The issue here is that the offensive line was already a bit of an issue for the Lions. Decker will turn 33 in August and was more good than great this past season—Pro Football Focus ranked him 41st overall among tackles. Still, we're talking about a left tackle who has started 140 games across 10 seasons."
"The Lions may try moving Penei Sewell over to left tackle, but that will create a void on the right side. One way or another, though, Detroit is now a team with Super Bowl aspirations and a gaping hole on one side of its offensive line."
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At this point, the Lions' plan to replace Decker is not fully formed. Free agent signing Larry Borom will ideally be the swing tackle and the primary backup at both spots. The draft is sure to yield an offensive tackle now, at which point whether or not Penei Sewell makes a position move will become clear.
Good left tackles don't grow on trees, and moving Sewell over to replace Decker would create an automatic and immediate downgrade at right tackle.
The Lions were right not to fight against Decker's desire to be released. The extent of the ask can be questioned, since it pushed to ask for his release, but they weren't wrong to ask him to take a pay cut.
Decker's departure leaves an undeniable all-around void. Filling it can't be done with the kind of half-measure that has become too typical.