Taylor Decker was released by the Detroit Lions on March 9, ending a decade-long run in Detroit. Now, his next destination is adding a new twist to the saga.

According to Justin Rogers of the Detroit Football Network, the former Lions tackle is not interested in joining any Detroit Lions rival during free agency. 

"I will tell you that he’s [Decker] pretty anti-playing for the Bears and Packers. That’s the Lions background," Justin Rogers said on the Lions Collective podcast on April 3. "Taylor feels kind of dirty about the idea. It just isn’t interesting to him."

Recently, Justin Rogers interviewed Taylor Decker at his residence in Arizona. During the interview, Decker spoke openly and shared his frustration by accusing the management of abandoning him. 

“His sole goal—and I’m not even thinking about this, he said this—his sole vision was coming back to play for the Lions,” Rogers added. “That was his vision. So, requesting his release, he didn’t really think forward about what was next.”

Post his release from the Lions, Decker awaits a new home. But he is determined not to join any rival teams of the Detroit Lions.

“He wants to play for a winner…,” said Rogers on Decker’s aspiration for a new home. “Is it cheap to win somewhere else after you’ve invested all your energy emotionally and physically into one franchise?”

Decker was drafted 16th overall in the 2016 NFL draft. He played for ten years under the Lions banner and started 140 games.

So if rivals are off the table, the focus now shifts to where Decker could realistically land.

Taylor Decker's Potential Landing Spots

With the Chicago Bears and the Green Bay Packers out of the picture, the 32-year-old Lions star is still waiting for a deal in free agency. 

The Houston Texans, the Carolina Panthers, and the Cleveland Browns are emerging as the most realistic landing spots.

The Texans are suffering from a decline in pass protection with CJ Stroud not performing at his best. With the trade of offensive tackle Tytus Howard to the Browns, Decker could act as a replacement at left tackle. 

The Panthers are looking for a left tackle after they lost their left tackle, Ikem Ekwonu, to a ruptured patellar tendon in his right knee during the playoff loss to the Rams. 

Beyond those options, the Browns could also pursue Decker as the franchise looks to rebuild an offense that ranked 31st in points scored last season.

Where do you think Taylor Decker will play in 2026? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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Written by

Kunwar Yashaswee Chhaunker

Edited by

Shubhi Rathore