It was shocking to see the departure of veteran left tackle Taylor Decker from the Detroit Lions after a decade with the franchise, which also included a Pro Bowl campaign in 2024. After his release in March, reports are now coming that Taylor Decker could be joining an AFC franchise.

On May 4, Jacob Infante of the Pro Football Sports Network reported this news, as was published on Heavy.

“Taylor Decker’s grading by PFSN’s OL Impact Scoring has been in average starter territory each of the last two seasons, which makes sense why the Lions cut him to free cap space with his hefty contract. He would still be an upgrade at left tackle over a handful of teams across the NFL,” said Infante.

The Lions had reportedly approached Decker to restructure his contract or to take a pay cut. After not being able to come to an agreement, Decker had sought a release. Now, reports are coming out that Decker could be joining the Miami Dolphins.

The Dolphins currently have Patrick Paul, a former second-round pick, as the starter, but many evaluators view him as unproven at the NFL level. Decker, despite turning 32 in August, would represent a clear upgrade in experience and reliability.

Miami’s offensive line remains one of the weaker units on the roster, and adding a veteran like Decker would provide immediate stability and leadership for a young group. Analysts believe he could step in as the Week 1 starter and help protect whichever quarterback the Dolphins roll with in 2026.

Decker has also been rumoured to have interest from the Chicago Bears, as his relationship with their current HC has been good for years. But do the Bears need an LT, and does Ben Johnson want him on the team?

Could Decker Find His Way To The Bears’ Roster?

Decker has a strong professional relationship with Johnson, who served as the Detroit Lions’ offensive coordinator from 2022 to 2025. During those three seasons, Decker was the team’s longtime starting left tackle and one of the leaders on the offensive line. He played a key role in Johnson’s system, helping transform the Lions’ offense into one of the most productive units in the NFL.

Early on, the Chicago Bears were one of the most frequently mentioned landing spots for Decker, as per Mike Pendleton from Bears Wire. However, that has significantly cooled.

Furthermore, as per Justin Roberts of Detroit Football Network, Decker himself has refused to be a part of the Bears or Green Bay Packers.  

"I will tell you that he’s pretty anti-playing for the Bears and Packers. That’s the Lions background. I know Ben Johnson did it and that was the right situation for him, but Taylor feels kinda dirty about the idea. It just isn’t interesting to him."

With this in retrospect, it feels almost certain that the Bears won’t be a landing spot for the LT. 

Where do you think he will fit well? Tell us in the comments.

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Written by

Dhruv Vishnu Nair

Edited by

Zaid Quraishi