The Chicago Bears have addressed the center position by trading for Garrett Bradbury after Drew Dalman’s unexpected retirement earlier this month, but left tackle remains an open question as NFL free agency began with its open negotiating period on Monday.
Chicago acted quickly to add speed across the defense, though Bears fans are still waiting on a potentially significant signing to fill a hole at edge-rusher. The team is taking a more patient approach to its issue on the left side of the O-line following a knee injury to 2025 second-round pick Ozzy Trapilo late in Chicago’s opening round playoff victory over the Green Bay Packers.
But the Bears got some good news on that front, as the Detroit Lions officially cut ties with recent Pro Bowler/offensive tackle Taylor Decker.
“Lions have released T Taylor Decker,” the team announced on its official X account.
Decker will play next season at 33 years old. He is a 10-year NFL veteran and has spent the entirety of his professional career to this point in Detroit.
Taylor Decker Better Option for Bears Than Packers’ Free Agent Rasheed Walker
GettyDetroit Lions offensive linemen Penei Sewell (left) and former teammate Taylor Decker (right).
Decker was a Pro Bowler in 2024, though his play dropped off significantly last season. That said, he is still probably the best option currently viable to fill in for the Bears at left tackle.
Trapilo is likely to return at some point in 2026, though probably not until late in the season, which means a full-time starting opportunity in Chicago that should entice Decker after he chose not to retire this spring.
The top-rated player at the position entering free agency was Rasheed Walker, a seventh-round pick of the Packers in 2022, who has a projected value of $20 million annually over a new four-year contract.
Pro Football Focus ranked Walker 52nd out of 89 players who saw enough snaps in 2025 to qualify, while PFF afforded Decker a ranking of 41st.
Walker, given his age (26), might be the better longterm play even at similar money, but the Bears don’t need a longterm answer if they expect Trapilo to return healthy. Decker probably can’t get a four-year deal on the open market, so something like a two-year contract is likely his expectation.
Spotrac projects Decker’s market value at exactly two years and roughly $21 million per season.
Bears Could Bring Back Familiar Option at Left Tackle in Braxton Jones on Inexpensive Contract
GettyChicago Bears left tackle Braxton Jones.
The Bears could also go cheaper and try to bring back Braxton Jones on a short-term deal to fill in for Trapilo next season and add depth to the unit in 2027, just as he did down the stretch of last year and into the playoffs.
Spotrac projects Jones’ market value at $9.5 million total over a new two-year deal.
Jones, a fifth-round pick in 2022, appeared in 46 games and started 44 of them for Chicago over the past four seasons. He battled injuries last year, losing his starting job a little before the halfway point of the campaign.
Bears Get Big News as Rival Parts Ways With Starting Left Tackle