Days after a request for his release, the Detroit Lions have granted Taylor Decker’s wishes and released the veteran left tackle.
The move comes after Decker posted on social media that while he wished to return to the Lions for his 11th season in the NFL, the team approached him with “numerous conversations” that were a “surprise.” Per the Detroit Free Press, those discussions included a proposed pay cut. Those talks obviously broke down, and it led to Decker wanting out.
The move will create $11.6 million in cap space for Detroit. Meanwhile, Decker can sign with any team he pleases whenever he wants. He doesn’t have to wait until the start of free agency because he was released.
It’s an odd end to Decker’s tenure with the Lions. Selected 16th overall in the 2016 draft by the Lions, Decker has remained loyal to the team through both the good times and the bad. He has been a leader on the field and a captain in the locker room. Last year, Decker fought through a nagging, painful shoulder injury that required an exhaustive amount of pre-hab and rehab. Despite that, he still started 14 of 17 games and provided above-average play. In total, Decker’s career ends with 140 total starts for the Lions over 10 seasons.
Unfortunately, sometimes business gets in the way. With the Lions tight against the cap and looking to get younger and cheaper throughout the roster, Detroit will now have a massive hole to fill at left tackle. For Decker, he’ll now have a chance to hit the free agency market and cash in one last time.
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