When he announced he would play an 11th NFL season, after openly weighing retirement, it was inconceivable Taylor Decker would do anything other than suit up for the Detroit Lions. But rather than take a pay cut, he asked for and was given his release.
Even with certain things in mind, like Decker openly considering retirement and openly acknowledging a surgically-repaired shoulder might never be the same, there would surely be a decent market for the one of the most underrated left tackles in the league over the last several years, right?
But here were are, less than a week before final preseason roster cuts around the league, and Decker is unemployed. Among all the theoretical options, what looked to particularly good potential opportunities with the Washington Commanders and Los Angeles Rams have not come to fruition.
In the Commanders' case, they seem content to go with internal options to replace Laremy Tunsil. Rams' left tackle Alaric Jackson has seemed to be in line for a suspension after another off-field incident this offseason, but that discipline hasn't happened yet, if it's even going to happen.
Taylor Decker may have one real opportunity left to play in 2026 (such as he would even consider it)
After the Lions let him go, Decker had a lengthy conversation with Justin Rogers of Detroit Football Network. He lamented "radio silence" from the team, while mentioning how Chicago Bears head coach (and former Lions offensive coordinator) Ben Johnson had reached out to him after the move.
Rogers later revealed, on the "Lions Collective" podcast, where Decker was in regard to playing for certain teams.
"I will tell you that he’s pretty anti-playing for the Bears or Packers. That’s the Lions background in him. I know Ben Johnson did it and that was the right situation for him, but Taylor feels kind of dirty about the idea. It just isn’t interesting to him."
It's worth wondering if Decker's tune has changed since late-March. There is also an overriding question about the extent of his desire to play at all, which Rogers talked about at that point in time.
"I could see him joining a team midstream...and injury happens somehere...like that right offer emerges", Rogers said. "I also could see him not playing."
The Bears had hoped to get clarity on their left tackle situation in their second preseason game. But default favorite to start Week 1 Braxton Jones did not take the reigns as hoped, with a penalty and general struggles against Cincinnati Bengals' reserves. His competitors, such as they exist beyond Theo Benedet right now, did not do much better.
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Decker has presumably stayed in some level of football shape as he waits for the right opportunity. Training camp and preseason games would not be a requirement, or a desired process, for him anyway.
If Decker wants to play this season, he may be down to one, vaguely possible opportunity unless someone loses their starting left tackle. The injury thing hasn't, to this point, even made a difference for Washington.
The question is if the Bears will make the call in light of their situation, or if Johnson will take Decker at his previous word about not wanting to play for Lions' division rivals.
So that publicly (and perhaps privately) stated "anti-NFC North" stance could still impact Decker's job prospects in August. But maybe that's been the plan all along, to eliminate a seemingly ideal fit like the Bears and narrow the field of viable suitors enough to put retirement fully on the table.
If the Bears/Johnson don't call him soon, or if he remains committed to that flimsy stance about not wanting to play for another NFC North team, maybe Decker is better off to just retire. Maybe he should've just made that decision back in March, if that's how he was leaning anyway.
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