The Detroit Lions’ offseason just got turned upside down—again.
Just over a week after left tackle Taylor Decker announced he was returning for an 11th season, he has officially requested his release from the Lions. Per Dave Birkett, the Lions wanted him to take a pay cut. Instead, Decker wanted out.
Obviously, this adds left tackle to the Lions’ list of needs. Although given Decker was considering retirement—and the Lions asked him to take a pay cut—it’s entirely possible the team has already been planning for his replacement.
Here are four options the Lions have:
Go all-in on a free agent or trade
Unfortunately, this choice doesn’t offer many options. They could go after former Packers left tackle Rasheed Walker, who PFF projects to earn a four-year, $84 million deal. Or they could attempt to sign Giants right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor, who PFF projects to earn a three-year, $36 million deal.
Trade targets are a lot harder to predict, and teams aren’t typically all that willing to depart with their starting offensive tackles, but Detroit could try to get creative.
Pros of this route: While you’d be spending just as much—if not more—than you would on Decker, you’d also be getting much younger at the position if you signed Walker, who just turned 26. Eluemunor is just one year younger than Decker, though.
Cons of this route: If the Lions approached Decker with a pay cut request, this route doesn’t make much sense. Combined with Decker’s $9+ million in dead cap, you’d actually be spending more on the position, and I’m not convinced you’d get better play out of Walker, nor Eluemunor.
Band-aid in free agency, long-term fix in draft
While free agency is not very top-heavy with long-term options, there are some quick fixes. I outlined some in our OT free agent preview here, including Jack Conklin, Kendall Lamm, and Justin Skule. PFF projects all of those veterans to earn $3 million or less on a one-year deal this offseason. There’s also oft-injured Cardinals right tackle Jonah Williams, or former top-10 pick Jedrick Wills, who reportedly visited the Lions on Thursday.
A short-term deal gives the Lions an option for 2026, and then they can go into the draft and get their long-term replacement, should the right one fall to them. This year’s class has plenty of options who could be there at 17 overall, including Georgia’s Monroe Freeling, Clemson’s Blake Miller, Utah’s Caleb Lomu, or Alabama’s Kadyn Proctor.
Pros: This is the safest route to go. The Lions get someone in free agency who can be a ‘Plan B.’ Then, they can go into the draft not desperate to grab a tackle if the right one isn’t there.
Cons: This year’s free agent tackle class is filled with aging players with serious injury histories. Grabbing one feels like a half-measure that will require the Lions to be aggressive in the draft anyway.
Go all-in on the draft
It would be a bit reckless to go into the NFL Draft with no ‘Plan A’ at offensive tackle, and I don’t expect them to do so. But Lions general manager Brad Holmes could go into April knowing he plans on being aggressive in getting his tackle of the future. Maybe he’s confident one of his players will be there at 17, or maybe he’s prepared to trade up and grab one of the best in this year’s class. Whether it’s the four I mentioned above, or maybe he’s got his eye on Miami’s Francis Mauigoa or Utah’s Spencer Fano—both players who are commonly mocked in the top-10 of this year’s draft—this might be the route Holmes will take.
Pros: No half measures. The Lions attack one of their biggest needs and don’t mess around. Plus, they’ll get younger and cheaper at a position.
Cons: No safety net. The Lions would HAVE to draft an offensive tackle, and everyone would know it. That level of desperation would lead to other teams taking advantage in a trade or possibly even trying to jump them.
Pray for Giovanni Manu’s development
The Lions drafted Giovanni Manu in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft with the hopes he would develop into a contributing player at some level. Starting left tackle was the most optimistic outcome of that, and there have not really been any indications that’s in his future yet. But if the Lions know something we don’t, that would be the cheapest, easiest way to replace Decker.
Pros: Cheap, easy. Lions can save offseason resources on other positions.
Cons: There have been zero indications that Manu is ready for that promotion.
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