After last season ended, Taylor Decker made it clear he intended to be a Detroit Lion for a good while longer as he looked toward the final year of his contract. His recent optimism about a deal being done came to fruition on Monday morning, when general manager Brad Holmes broke the news during an appearance on 97.1 The Ticket.
According to his agent, Decker got a three-year, $60 million deal with $31.83 million guaranteed. He's now under contract through 2027.
Decker has literally been through it all in Detroit, now entering his ninth season. The playoffs as a rookie in 2016, to the dysfunctional depths of the Matt Patricia era to the rise over the last couple seasons. Nearing his 31st birthday (August 23), he seems to still have plenty of good years left in his career. Last year, he was Pro Football Focus' ninth-highest graded offensive tackle with good marks as both a run and pass blocker.
Taylor Decker appreciates unique opportunity he has taken a big step toward
Decker took the podium after Monday's practice with special guest: his 21-month old daugher Daisy. He was noticeably a little emotional when talking about his fresh contract extension, which will take him through his 12th NFL season, all with the Lions, if he plays it out fully.
"It's not lost on me the fact that a lot of guys don't get to spend their whole careers with one team," Decker said. "Hopefully, that's in the cards for me and from the contract extension it seems like it's in the cards. I'm very fortunate."
Via Kyle Meinke of MLive, Decker said he feels like he's in his prime and can play as long as he wants to-barring a major injury.
"I think I’m in my prime,” Decker said. "I still think I am. I think I’ll be able to play as long as I want to, knock on wood, barring any freak accidents. So I just want to be here. I want to be a part of this team.”
Decker openly wants to spend his entire career with the Lions. On Monday he revealed a contract extension had been on his mind, in terms of stating his intentions to the team, for the last year-and-a-half. A conversation with Dan Campbell at OTAs this summer reassured him it would happen, and things apparently played out just as Campbell laid out.
All in all, Decker is on track to spend his entire career with one team. That's a unique thing, and he has great appreciation for the now strong possibility he can do it.