And just like that, the Detroit Lions are in the market for a new left tackle.
Taylor Decker, the longest tenured member of the Lions, announced on Instagram on Friday, March 6, that he has requested to be released from the team he spent 10 years starting at left tackle for.
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The Lions drafted Decker No. 16 overall in the 2016 NFL Draft out of Ohio State and Decker became a cornerstone as the blindside blocker for the Lions, first for Matthew Stafford and eventually for Jared Goff.
Decker’s announcement on social media was extra shocking, as a little over a week ago, he wrote that he intended to return for an 11th NFL season in 2026.
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Detroit Lions’ Taylor Decker: A look at his time with the team
Detroit Lions left tackle Taylor Decker takes the field during player introductions before the Detroit Lions game against the Carolina Panthers at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023.
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Detroit Lions’ Taylor Decker: A look at his time with the team
Detroit Lions left tackle Taylor Decker takes the field during player introductions before the Detroit Lions game against the Carolina Panthers at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023.
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Detroit Lions’ Taylor Decker: A look at his time with the team
Taylor Decker celebrates and high-fives fans after the Detroit Lions’ win against the Minnesota Vikings at Ford Field on Jan. 5, 2025 in Detroit.
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Detroit Lions’ Taylor Decker: A look at his time with the team
Detroit Lions left tackle Taylor Decker celebrates the 24-14 win over the Green Bay Packers as he exits the field at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024.
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Detroit Lions’ Taylor Decker: A look at his time with the team
LANDOVER, MARYLAND – NOVEMBER 09: Penei Sewell #58 and Taylor Decker #68 of the Detroit Lions celebrate after their team’s 44-22 victory against the Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium on November 09, 2025 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
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Detroit Lions’ Taylor Decker: A look at his time with the team
Detroit Lions offensive tackle Taylor Decker (68) gets ready for a play against Philadelphia Eagles during the second half at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Sunday, November 16, 2025.
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Detroit Lions’ Taylor Decker: A look at his time with the team
Detroit Lions guard Graham Glasgow, left, talks to offensive tackle Taylor Decker after practice during training camp at Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park on Sunday, July 20, 2025.
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Detroit Lions’ Taylor Decker: A look at his time with the team
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff and left tackle Taylor Decker walk out from the tunnel and get ready to take the field against the Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Md. on Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025.
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Detroit Lions’ Taylor Decker: A look at his time with the team
Oct 20, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Lions offensive tackle Taylor Decker (68) against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images
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Detroit Lions’ Taylor Decker: A look at his time with the team
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff and left tackle Taylor Decker walk out from the tunnel and get ready to take the field against the Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Md. on Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025.
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Detroit Lions’ Taylor Decker: A look at his time with the team
Detroit Lions offensive tackle Taylor Decker (68) warms up ahead of the Philadelphia Eagles game at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Sunday, November 16, 2025.
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Detroit Lions’ Taylor Decker: A look at his time with the team
Detroit Lions guard Tate Ratledge (69), tackle Taylor Decker (68) and quarterback Jared Goff (16) take the field for the first half against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis., on Sunday, September 7, 2025.
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Detroit Lions’ Taylor Decker: A look at his time with the team
Taylor Decker of the Detroit Lions plays against the Cleveland Browns at Ford Field on Sept. 28, 2025 in Detroit.
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Detroit Lions’ Taylor Decker: A look at his time with the team
Detroit Lions offensive tackle Taylor Decker (68) practices during training camp at Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park on Monday, July 28, 2025.
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Detroit Lions’ Taylor Decker: A look at his time with the team
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell hugs offensive tackle Taylor Decker (68) during warmup before the Dallas Cowboys game at Ford Field in Detroit on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025.
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Detroit Lions’ Taylor Decker: A look at his time with the team
Nov 2, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Lions tackle Taylor Decker (68) enters the field before the game against the Minnesota Vikings at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: David Reginek-Imagn Images
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Detroit Lions’ Taylor Decker: A look at his time with the team
Detroit Lions offensive tackle Taylor Decker (68) leads a huddle before a game against the New York Giants at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025.
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Detroit Lions’ Taylor Decker: A look at his time with the team
Detroit Lions offensive tackle Taylor Decker (68) signs autographs on the back of Lilliana Lauretti, 1, of St. Clair Shores during training camp at Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park on Monday, July 28, 2025.
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Detroit Lions’ Taylor Decker: A look at his time with the team
Penei Sewell and Taylor Decker celebrate the Detroit Lions’ 44-22 victory against the Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium on Nov. 9, 2025 in Landover, Maryland.
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Detroit Lions’ Taylor Decker: A look at his time with the team
Detroit Lions offensive tackle Taylor Decker (68) and center Frank Ragnow (77) walk off the field after training camp Wednesday, July 26, 2023.
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Detroit Lions’ Taylor Decker: A look at his time with the team
Detroit Lions head coach Jim Caldwell and first-round draft pick, Ohio State offensive tackle Taylor Decker, take pictures during a press conference at the practice facility in Allen Park on Friday, May 29, 2016.
“Things change,” Decker wrote “145 games started, 3 playoff appearances, 2 division titles, a decade carrying the shield. I fully intended to do it once again, but my time as a Lion is coming to an end.
“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.”
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In short, the Lions asked Decker to take a paycut as they try and revamp their roster, and Decker wasn’t interested and instead requested his release.
THE NEWS: Taylor Decker requests release from Detroit Lions in stunning turn
Now the Lions will have another spot to fill on their offensive line after already releasing Graham Glasgow, as they still search for a long-term solution at center after Frank Ragnow’s sudden retirement before last season.
The good news for the Lions is they will have both the NFL draft and free agency to try and rebuild their O-line.
USA TODAY’S Nate Davis recently released his top-100 free agents list, which included numerous options at left tackle and right tackle (as the Lions have also reportedly considered moving perennial All-Pro Penei Sewell to the left side).
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Here are all five of the best free agents at offensive tackle according to Davis:
Oct 19, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Green Bay Packers tackle Rasheed Walker (63) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Overall rank: No. 9.
What Davis wrote: “He’s been a solid, if unspectacular, starter for the Packers since 2023. But serviceable, 26-year-old left tackles don’t grow on trees and tend to get paid outrageously well − maybe especially so in a year when there aren’t any blue-chip incomers in the draft.”
Best fits:Â Browns, Bears.
Overall rank: No. 39.
What Davis wrote: “An immensely talented player who was the 14th overall pick by the Jets in 2021, he can excel pretty much anywhere on the line … provided he can play. Vera-Tucker has played more than seven games twice in his career and missed all of last season with a triceps injury. He has not played tackle since 2022.”
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Overall rank: No. 48.
What Davis wrote: “A series of injuries starting late in the 2024 season waylaid him, but he was a reliable left tackle for the Bears for the three years up to that point. Jones turns 27 next month and should have a lot of good football left in him.”
Overall rank: No. 61.
What Davis wrote: “A fifth-rounder in 2017, he’s been better than average during his career and has become an especially good pass blocker in recent years – starting 62 games since 2022.”
OT Braden Smith (Colts)
Overall rank: No. 85.
What Davis wrote: “He’s started 105 games in eight seasons for the Colts but has missed 16 over the past three seasons and has battled a severe obsessive-compulsive disorder.”
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Andrew Birkle is an assistant sports editor for the Free Press. Contact him via email at abirkle@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Taylor Decker replacements for Lions in free agency after release