The Detroit Lions have already “handed the bag” to three of their top talents this summer. But if the Lions sign another veteran to a long-term contract this summer, Bleacher Report’s Ryan Fowler argued on June 23 that it should be left tackle Taylor Decker. Decker, a former Detroit first-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, has started 112 games for the Lions over the last eight seasons. He has started at least eight games every season of his career.
The Lions extended OT Penei Sewell, WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, and QB Jared Goff this summer, leaving 30-year-old Taylor Decker as a possible next guy in line to fill his pockets,” said Fowler. “A mainstay at left tackle in Detroit for nearly a decade, talks have begun between Decker’s camp and Lions brass towards an extension.” Last season, Decker allowed eight sacks, twice as much as any other Lions pass blocker. Nonetheless, he received the fourth-highest Pro Football Focus player grade among offensive linemen who played 80% of their team’s snaps last season.
Decker also had a better grade in pass protection than run blocking.
Benefits to Lions Signing LT Taylor Decker to Extension
According to Spotrac, the Lions have the NFL’s second-most salary cap room available for the 2024 season. So the Lions don’t need to extend Decker to lower his 2024 cap charge in order to make another big trade before September (assuming the Lions are interested in doing so). However, Detroit’s decision to extend Decker may have other benefits.
And since the Lions have the cap space available, Detroit could consider front-loading Decker’s contract. That would potentially make him more expensive early in the deal but cheaper as he ages and when the Lions need more space for future deals.
