The Detroit Lions’ offseason has already had plenty of twists and turns, but one that fans didn’t see coming was the release of former starting left tackle Taylor Decker. After initially indicating he was ready to return for an 11th season in Detroit, the Lions surprised many when they released Decker, citing a dispute over a potential pay cut for the 2026 season.
Decker remains on the market, and with most teams taking a conservative approach in free agency, some have speculated that the 32-year-old could eventually find his way back to the Lions.
But that doesn’t appear likely as the relationship between the two sides has soured, according to Justin Rogers of Detroit Football Network.
“It’s been radio silence. It’s uncomfortable. It’s awkward,” Rogers wrote. “It feels like a high school breakup, where you can’t make eye contact when passing each other in the hall.”
With the two sides ghosting each other, it doesn’t appear like Decker will be returning to Detroit anytime soon. And it’s a partnership that is getting uglier in the final days of March.
Lions’ Ghosting of Taylor Decker Likely Closes the Door on Possible Return
Rogers’s comments are part of a “sit down” he had with Decker earlier this week. While both sides knew there was a chance Decker could retire, they also understood that the Lions wanted him to return in 2026 and that Decker was not interested in taking a pay cut if he returned.
After Decker announced his return via Instagram, the Lions allegedly informed his agent that the only way it could happen was if he took a pay cut. Decker refused and cited “numerous discussions, many of which were a surprise to me,” when announcing his release in a separate Instagram post on March 6.
Of course, he has yet to find a new job over the past month.
Holmes didn’t rule out Decker’s eventual return, saying “never say never” in an interview with the Lions Collective this week. But per Rogers, getting released wasn’t the biggest issue Decker had: it was the fact that he’s had minimal conversations with the Lions since the split
“Here’s what’s driving Decker crazy. This does feel a little personal,” Rogers wrote. “Since talking to (Lions head coach Dan Campbell) on Feb. 23, he hasn’t heard from team leadership. There wasn’t a follow-up from his coach, (general manager Brad Holmes) never reached out, and Decker had to make first contact with position coach Hank Fraley, a man he publicly went to bat for when Campbell was hired.
"After giving everything he had to the franchise for a decade, Decker expected more. He wanted to hear from his coach, from the general manager. He just wanted a simple ‘thank you’ on his way out the door. And, just as badly, he wanted to say ‘thank you’ for everything the organization has meant to and given to him."Justin Rogers, Detroit Football Network
Lions Sound Like They've Moved On
Even with Holmes keeping the door open, he also seemed to slam it shut, talking about Taylor in the past tense later in his interview.
“Again, he’s been a really good player for our franchise for a really long time, so he’s going to be missed,” Holmes said via 97.1 The Ticket’s William Burchfield. “I know the fans are going to miss him. The locker room is going to miss him... Unfortunately, those are the kind of difficult decisions that have to be made at times, but we wish him nothing but the best."
These comments put together an interesting puzzle for the Lions moving forward.
Decker seemed ready for a return, but the combination of a lack of contact from the team and the organization asking him to take a pay cut made it seem like they were ready to move on all along. Holmes has also been forward-thinking in his recent comments, hinting at a potential position switch for Penei Sewell from right tackle to left tackle and talking up free-agent signing Larry Borom as a potential starter at right tackle.
These situations could be amended quickly with a phone call, but until the two sides make up, it appears Decker is long gone, and the Lions have their eyes set on his replacement.