The Detroit Lions' offensive line had to go through a bit of an overhaul this offseason. Cade Mays arrived to anchor things in the middle, but they also needed to find another blindside protector for Jared Goff.
Taylor Decker asked to be released after not seeing eye to eye with the team about a contract extension. He clearly thought the market for veteran left tackles would be much more active than it actually was.
As a result, the Lions had to draft Clemson's Blake Miller in the first round and moved Penei Sewell back to left tackle. Decker, on the other hand, remains a free agent after five full weeks of the regular season.
Taylor Decker might be regretting forcing his way out of Detroit
The Lions wanted Decker to restructure his contract and take a pay cut. He felt disrespected by the request and the lack of communication, and ultimately asked for his release. But with a projected market value of $20 million, he didn't do much better in the open market.
Decker wasn't a superstar left tackle by any means, but he had been quite a serviceable player for a decade. He had spent his entire career in Detroit, and he hadn't shown any signs of slowing down or struggling in recent years.
In fact, he gave up 33 pressures in 2025, but only three quarterback hits and two sacks, and he was called for just five penalties (one declined). That's more than decent play by a former Pro Bowler with plenty left in the tank.
Miller, on the other hand, hasn't done too bad himself. The rookie right tackle played 279 snaps before the bye week, and he's given up just nine pressures, with one quarterback hit and no sacks allowed. He's struggled with penalties, though, drawing five flags, but those are just normal growing pains of a rookie tackle in the National Football League.
Decker miscalculated his bet. He didn't read the room, and his camp probably deserves more blame for this situation than he does. Also, he didn't do himself any favors when he claimed he wouldn't play for another NFC North team, as the Green Bay Packers could've and probably would've been interested in his services.
That said, it's still pretty early in the season, and injuries always happen. If he's still working out and in game shape, he might still get another chance to suit up and wear a different jersey for the first time in his career.
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