Deep into last offseason, early June to be exact, the Detroit Lions were caught with their proverbial pants down when center Frank Ragnow announced his retirement. With free agency and the draft in the rearview mirror by then, it was down to internal options or vague trade targets to fill that void.
The struggles of a once-formidable offensive line in 2025 started with Ragnow calling it a career, and the lack of viable options to replace him based on the timing of his decision.
As this offseason starts, the Lions find themselves in a somewhat similar situation. In December, left tackle Taylor Decker revealed he would be considering retirement after the season.
"Like I said, ideally, I would play. I would continue to play (at least one more year),” Decker told Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. “But I just need to sit and evaluate, and … this is not a decision that I want to make now or kind of consider right now, cause it would be an emotional decision. 'Cause like I said, right now, this has not been a fun year. But I know if I remove those variables that have made it unfun, I still enjoy playing football. And I think I'm playing really well.”
Decker's sentiment is a little different than the more vague retirement rumors that had lingered around Ragnow since after his injury-laden 2023 season, which one reporter generally nailed the timeline on by the way. With Decker going so public at an early point, the Lions will be better-prepared for his eventual departure.
At season's end, Decker made it clear he would not rush a decision about this future.
"I need to make informed decisions,” Decker said, via Birkett. “I need to get second opinions. There’s a lot that I have to do, because I want to make this decision moving forward informed. And I don’t want to make it emotionally because if I make it emotionally, I already know what the answer is going to be. But it’s a massive decision, and it’s not only about me. It’s about my kids.”
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The Lions might like to know what Decker is doing before free agency starts in March, a shade over two months after their season ended by then. And if not then, surely before the draft in late-April.
That said, securing Decker's successor should be on the radar early in the draft no matter what his decision for next season is. His first comments to Birkett made it clear 2026 will most likely be his final season if he does continue playing.
Not to critique Ragnow too much, but it's also safe to assume Decker will not suddenly announce his retirement after OTAs. If he hasn't announced it by when OTAs start, he's playing next season.
Penei Sewell said he's not putting any pressure on Taylor Decker
Birkett caught up with Penei Sewell on Radio Row at Super Bowl LX, and the Lions' right tackle made it clear he's not (yet?) lobbying Decker to come back for one more year.
"I give Big Dog his space,”Sewell told Birkett.“He’s been in it for quite some time now, so he deserves it and whatever he decides it’s the best thing for him."
It seems unlikely at this point, but one of the Lions' options to replace Decker is moving Sewell to left tackle (his college position).
But that's a conversation for another day. albeit a day that is on the horizon. If Sewell does know what Decker is going to decide about next season, he's not going to say so publicly out of respect for his veteran teammate.