The Detroit Lions have used free agency as an outlet to make additions to their offensive line. They signed both Cade Mays and Larry Borom, but they have a hole at left tackle after Taylor Decker requested and was granted his release from Detroit.
This led the Lions to bring in Jedrick Wills for a visit, but that didn't matter, as he signed with a division rival. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that Wills and the Chicago Bears have agreed on a one-year deal.
This addition now forces the Lions to pivot elsewhere, as they look to find some answers at left tackle for the 2026 season.
Jedrick Wills Turns Lions Away and Signs with the Bears
While Wills has had his share of problems himself in the NFL, including staying healthy for the last three years, the Lions were interested in bringing him in for the 2026 season. He was the Browns' 10th overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft and has 57 starts under his belt.
The former Alabama product did sit out the 2025 season to recover from a knee injury, but seems ready to make a comeback. He signed with the Bears and will likely face off against Braxton Jones to see who will get the left tackle job.
Now the Lions will have to see if they can find another way to add a player there. They can't put all their eggs into Borom's basket. Over his five-year career, he has appeared in 63 games (38 total starts). He's been more of a depth guy who has been asked to start in a pinch. The 26-year-old has never started more than 11 games in a season, so banking on him as your LT1 is risky.
General manager Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell will need to find another way to improve in that room. The trade market could be one avenue, and San Francisco 49ers left tackle Trent Williams is the best name out there. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport revealed that the 49ers are "open to trading" him, as they are having problems negotiating a new deal.
If the Lions want to cough up a short-term extension and give up draft capital, he would be their best option, but that's an expensive route. They may lean on the NFL draft as a resource instead, but would have to use the 17th or 50th overall pick to find that answer.
Nonetheless, the Lions have their work cut out for them to find another left tackle after the Bears took Wills right from under them. Decker was a staple over the past decade for the Lions, and his absence has created a big hole for Detroit.