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Top Free Agent Landing Spots for LT Taylor Decker
Jun 18, 2026Ethan WoodieNFL Trade Rumors
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Taylor Decker is searching for a new team for the first time in his NFL career. A former first-round pick out of Ohio State by the Lions in 2016, Decker has been a rock-solid left tackle over the last decade. However, due to slightly declining play last season, a recent run of injuries and an unwieldy contract, the Lions chose to move on this offseason. By PFF grade, 2025 marked Decker’s worst season since 2017. Even so, he graded out above league average, speaking to how good he’s been over the course of his career. It was also just a one-year dip — as recently as 2024, Decker graded as one of the better tackles in football. He’ll be entering his age-32 season in 2026, so he may never bounce back to rank near the top of the league again, but he could still have a few more quality seasons ahead of him. Predicting Decker’s contract is a little tricky, but at this point, it’s clear he’s not viewed as a go-to option in free agency. That likely means he’s looking at a one-year deal, but he could still get something in the range of $10 million, likely on a short-term deal. As for landing spots, we can rule out the Packers. Some players don’t mind playing for former rivals, but Decker’s Detroit ties run deep and he publicly said he wouldn’t play in Green Bay. We can probably rule out the Bears and Vikings too as fellow NFC North rivals, though their left tackle needs aren’t as glaring anyway. Outside of that, it looks wide open. Decker, 32, is a former first-round pick of the Lions back in 2016. He was in the final year of a four-year, $10.967 million contract when the Lions picked up his fifth-year option. Decker was set to make a base salary of $10,350,000 for the 2020 season and was in line to be an unrestricted free agent in 2021 before the Lions signed him to a six-year, $85 million deal. Detroit re-signed Decker once again in July of 2024, when the two sides agreed on a three-year, $60 million extension. However, he was released following the 2025 season. In 2025, Decker appeared in and started 14 games for the Lions at left tackle. Pro Football Focus had him graded as the No. 39 tackle out of 84 qualifying players. We have him included in our Top 100 Available NFL Free Agents list. Dallas Cowboys The Cowboys have a left tackle problem. Tyler Guyton hasn’t developed as planned since being selected in the first round in 2024, regressing last season and causing Dallas to re-evaluate the position long-term. Without any natural alternatives to Guyton — the Cowboys’ backup tackles are fourth-rounder Drew Shelton , Ajani Cornelius and Nate Thomas — it puts the team in a bit of a bind if they want to move away from the 2024 No. 29 pick. The one option the Cowboys do have is to move Tyler Smith back out to tackle. A first-round pick in 2022, Smith played his rookie season at left tackle, but Dallas always viewed him as more of a guard. He was named a second-team All-Pro at left guard in 2023 and has established himself as one of the best young guards in the league since making the switch. Smith was a quality left tackle, too, but sliding him back out moves him away from his natural position. It also creates a hole at left guard that the Cowboys don’t have a great answer for. Signing Decker wouldn’t solve any of the Cowboys’ long-term questions at left tackle, but he would be an upgrade over Guyton right away. Dallas invested a lot in their defense this offseason and has a real shot to win a wide-open NFC East. The last thing they can afford is…