Once he decided to return for an 11th NFL season, Taylor Decker continuing to suit up for the Detroit Lions felt automatic to the point that the alternative was not worthy of discussion. Then Decker went public to say he had asked for and been granted his release, as "contract talks" (i.e., he was asked to take a pay cut) apparently did not go as planned.
It's not clear what the plan to replace Decker is, with at least one clear-cut miss in free agency, but it's now safe to assume an early pick in next month's draft will be used on an offensive tackle. It's possible Penei Sewell is moved to left tackle, but that would create an automatic downgrade at right tackle.
The idea that Decker could come back to the Lions after not finding what he expected on the open market has been put out there lately. But that bridge could also be burned, after what could've been contentious talks about adjusting his contract, and Decker should still have some other options.
Walker Little could be the best option for Lions as they scramble to find a Taylor Decker replacement
In a look at one trade some NFL contenders should consider making to fill their biggest weakness, Moe Moton of Bleacher Report discussed a new option for the Lions to replace Decker: Trading for Jacksonville Jaguars tackle Walker Little.
"Before free agency, the Detroit Lions released longtime offensive tackle Taylor Decker, creating a void on quarterback Jared Goff's blind side. They signed Larry Borom, but he's a placeholder and has been on three teams in three years," writes Moton.
This is where we mention that Borom should either be a candidate to start at right tackle, with Sewell making the aforementioned position move, or he'll become the Lions' swing tackle. If Borom becomes a candidate to start at left tackle, that's trouble.
"Jacksonville could listen to offers for Little, who may be ready to move on," Moton adds. "He's made 33 starts in his last 44 outings. In Detroit, the 26-year-old would get a fresh start in a lead position, two years from his first free-agency bid."
Little has two years left on the three-year, $40.5 million deal the Jaguars signed him to in December of 2024. But he has clearly fallen out of favor, all the way to being replaced as the left tackle late last season. He is in line to become a pretty expensive backup next season, albeit one with some valuable multi-position utility, but it also feels like a matter of time before the Jaguars part ways.
The draft pick required for the Lions to acquire Little in a trade would not be overly consequential, perhaps with some conditions attached to it. But they also could, and arguably should, just wait for the Jaguars to possibly cut him before considering him as an option to replace Decker.
The list of available veteran left tackles is never long, since good ones don't get parted with easily. Little being proposed as a candidate to replace Decker says it all about the quality of options that are out there for the Lions to consider, now that the brunt of free agency is over.