The excitement of free agency had wound down two weeks in as teams began to shift their focus to the upcoming NFL Draft. There are still plenty of solid players available, and among them is long-time Detroit Lions tackle Taylor Decker.
Decker remains a free agent after his requested release, which the Lions granted. While a reunion with the Lions isn't out of the realm of possibility, Zachary Rotman of FanSided.com predicts a different reunion for Decker.
Rotman has Decker landing with the Chicago Bears. Such a move would reunite Decker with former Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. Rotman recognizes that Decker is "on the decline" as a 32-year-old who was just contemplating retirement, but still finds the fit between Decker and the Bears "particularly interesting."
"The Bears' left tackle situation is far from set in stone. They re-signed Braxton Jones after cutting him, but is he really the solution after losing his starting job during the 2025 season? Is Ozzy Trapilo, Jones' replacement, really the answer? Should they be trusting Jedrick Wills Jr., a player who hasn't appeared in a game since 2024?"
Decker not only provides a veteran presence, but he's also familiar with Ben Johnson from their days in Detroit. He wouldn't break the bank and could really stabilize the left side of the offensive line.
It would be easy to see why Decker reporting in a Bears uniform would be devastating to Lions fans. It's already going to hurt seeing Kalif Raymond there. But Decker was with the Lions for even longer, having been drafted by the Lions in 2016 and having played all ten seasons of his career in Detroit.
Through the lows of the chaotic Matt Patricia era to the highs of the NFC Championship game, Decker represented the Lions' mantra of grit. He battled hard to play every week despite mounting nagging injuries, not missing a single playoff game. In 2024, Decker was finally named to his first Pro Bowl, giving the Lions a Pro Bowl OT on each side of the line. In short, Decker gave Detroit his all.
Decker believes he still has something left in the tank, and it looks like he'll try to prove it elsewhere as the Lions have forged ahead with their offseason.
The Lions' post-Taylor Decker offensive line is already taking shape
It would be painful to see a player who gave his all to Detroit suit up for a hated rival that's coming off an NFC North title. At the same time, the Lions needed to remodel their o-line after a frustrating season, despite Penei Sewell continuing to play at a Hall of Fame level.
The Lions' plan for this offseason appears to be to get younger, acquiring almost exclusively players under 30. This includes new center Cade Mays, new guard Juice Scruggs, and new OT Larry Borom. Younger doesn't necessarily mean healthier, but the Lions seem to believe that having younger bodies out there will help them better keep up with the speed and power of modern defenders.
READ MORE: New Lions OT Larry Borom on what it means to come home to Detroit
Parting ways with Decker also opens another door in the remodel: moving Sewell to LT. Sewell is a natural LT who was moved to RT upon being drafted due to Decker's presence. With Decker gone, Sewell shifting to the left is beginning to look like a certainty, which would end hopes of Decker coming back to Detroit unless it's as a backup or in case of emergency.
Time will tell where Decker ends up. Never rule out the possibility that Decker ends up elsewhere in the NFC North, either. Wherever it is, it's going to be incredibly strange seeing Decker in another uniform. Hopefully, it's for a place where Lions fans feel comfortable rooting for him from afar.