While the Detroit Lions have not officially released left tackle Taylor Decker, the writing appears to be on the wall. After the Lions reportedly asked Decker to take a pay cut, the veteran offensive lineman requested to be released, hoping for a “clean and amicable” parting of ways.
That means the Lions’ search for their long-term left tackle has officially begun. This likely isn’t something that caught the Lions completely off-guard. Prior to Decker announcing he’s ready to return for 2026, Lions coach Dan Campbell indicated the team’s need to address the tackle position regardless of what Decker decided.
“One way or another, we’re going to need somebody that can play over there and that can help us if we need them in a crunch or we need them as a starter,” Campbell said. “That’s important. We’ve talked about the interior of the offensive line, too. That’s important. We’ve been digging, we’ve been looking at stuff.”
Now the urgency has been turned up and it almost feels like a foregone conclusion that the Lions will pick a tackle early in this year’s NFL Draft. They’ll certainly try to add some help in free agency, too, but the draft seems like the optimal option.
So today’s Question of the Day is:
Who is your favorite Taylor Decker replacement in the 2026 NFL Draft?
My answer: Before I get into my pick, it’s worth noting that whoever the Lions take may not be the literal Decker replacement. They could be the Penei Sewell replacement should Detroit opt to move their star right tackle to the left side. Having that option should help Detroit be flexible in the draft. Grab a right tackle. Grab a left tackle. It doesn’t really matter. Just get the best player.
Additionally, I’ll be completely upfront here: I haven’t watched the tape of any offensive tackles yet. I’ve done my fair share of research on their statistics, my own version of a character evaluation, and studied what other draft experts think about these prospects. But at this point in the offseason, I still have a long ways to go to solidify my feelings on these prospects.
All that being said, I came away impressed by Georgia’s Monroe Freeling during the media sessions at the NFL Combine and he followed it up with ridiculous athletic numbers on the field. It’s possible that performance has vaulted him into the top-10, but with only 16 starts at the college level, there may be some hesitation to take him so high. He is very high on my current wishlist of picks at 17 overall.
Which offensive tackle prospect is your favorite to take a starting spot on the Lions’ offensive line? Share your answer in the comment section below.
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