During his end-of-season remarks, Detroit Lions starting left tackle Taylor Decker admitted that retirement is on his mind.

It’s taken a lot of treatments just for Decker to be able to play and that’s also taken time away from his family. Decker said if second medical opinions indicate that 2026 would mirror 2025, then he would step away.

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But, what if Decker likes what he hears? Decker will be 33 years old at the start of next season and has been a mainstay for Detroit. The 6-foot-7, 324-pound lineman has played in and started 140 games over 10 seasons with the Lions since being taken 16th overall in the first round of the 2016 NFL draft.

In its big predictions for each NFL team’s offseason, ESPN predicts that the Lions will cut Decker if he wants to keep playing.

The Lions will cut left tackle Taylor Decker if he does not retire. He will be 33 years old next season and has had issues with shoulder injuries. In 2025, he fell to 45th out of 69 ranked tackles in pass block win rate, and he ranked 61st in run block win rate. – Aaron Schatz, ESPN

Per Spotrac, the Lions would net $18.2 million in 2026 cap savings with a post-June 1 cut of Decker. For a Detroit franchise that will be looking for ways to free up some cap space this offseason, cutting Decker could be two birds with one stone.

Even if Decker were to play in 2026, the Lions will need a new long-term answer at left tackle eventually. After a season where its offensive line was at the heart of some of Detroit’s shortcomings, it might make sense for the franchise to move on from Decker now.

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The 2026 offseason could very well bring a host of changes up front for Detroit.

Lions swing lineman Dan Skipper already announced his retirement, Detroit center Graham Glasgow is also mulling retirement and then there’s this Decker situation.

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This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: ESPN shares big prediction, cut candidate for Detroit Lions offseason