The Detroit Lions saved about $15 million in cap space with the release of left tackle Taylor Decker.
Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox, though, made it rather clear this week — the team should have preferred keeping Decker over the cap room.
On Wednesday, Knox argued the Lions will regret releasing the 2024 Pro Bowl left tackle.
“Decker will turn 33 in August and was more good than great this past season—Pro Football Focus ranked him 41st overall among tackles. Still, we’re talking about a left tackle who has started 140 games across 10 seasons,” wrote Knox.
“The Lions may try moving Penei Sewell over to left tackle, but that will create a void on the right side. One way or another, though, Detroit is now a team with Super Bowl aspirations and a gaping hole on one side of its offensive line.”
The Lions officially cut Decker on Monday. His release marked the end of a 10-year tenure for the left tackle in Detroit.
Over a decade, Decker started 140 games with the Lions. That was after Detroit drafted him at No. 16 overall in the 2016 NFL Draft.
Decker made one Pro Bowl during his stint in 2024. During that season, he helped the Lions post a franchise-best 15-2 regular season record.
Why the Lions Released LT Taylor Decker
In Detroit’s defense, the team didn’t initially want to cut Decker. The Detroit Free Press’s Dave Birkett reported on March 6 that before his release, the Lions asked Decker to take a pay cut.
However, the left tackle was unwilling to do so. Then, he asked for his release.
Granted, pundits may argue the Lions should have known how Decker might react to a pay cut. Without that request, Decker would have returned to Detroit for 2026.
“I fully intended to do it again, but my time as a Lion is coming to an end,” wrote Decker in a social media message on March 6. “In the weeks since notifying the team of my return, there have been numerous discussions. Many of which were a surprise to me, and we could not find common ground.
“Therefore, I decided to request my release.”
At any rate, once the Lions decided a pay cut was necessary, Decker’s fate in Detroit was sealed. The Lions didn’t see him worth the $21 million cap hit in 2026.
The team took a $6.396 million dead cap charge to release Decker.
How Lions Replace Decker
Whether the Lions ultimately regret the decision to cut Decker as Knox predicted will depend on who the team finds as its next left tackle.
Birkett suggested the team could flip All-Pro right tackle Penei Sewell from right to left tackle. With such a move, Detroit would place its best lineman in the most important offensive line spot.
It would then be much easier to find a free agent to play right tackle.
The Lions have already added two tackles for additional depth this offseason — Larry Borom in free agency and Juice Scruggs in a trade. Detroit would likely hesitate at making one of those tackles its starter at left tackle, but perhaps the pair could compete for the right tackle job.
On Friday, ESPN’s Bill Barnwell wasn’t in favor of moving Sewell to left tackle. Instead, Barnwell argued the Lions as a fit for left tackle free agent Rasheed Walker.
Before free agency began, The Athletic’s Daniel Popper projected Walker to be worth a 4-year, $82 million contract. But the former Green Bay Packers seventh-round hasn’t seen that kind of market early in free agency. ESPN’s Adam Schefter argued Walker might be “looking” at a 1-year, prove-it deal instead.
If the Lions can add the division rival’s former left tackle, even on a short-term contract, the regret over the Decker release is likely to be low.
But until Detroit finds a 2026 left tackle solution, second-guessing the Decker release is likely to continue.
UPDATE: NFL insider Ian Rapoport reported Friday afternoon Walker signed a 1-year deal with the Carolina Panthers. NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported the deal worth about $10 million.
Lions Receive Warning Over Cutting Pro Bowler Taylor Decker