TheLionsapproached Decker about taking a steep pay cut – he was due $14.9 in base salary in 2026 and had a $1.5 million roster bonus – and when the two sides couldn't agree on a deal, Decker asked to be let out of his contract.
By granting Decker's request for a release, the Lions cannot recoup money from his signing bonus if he retires.
Detroit Lions left tackle Taylor Decker takes the field during player introductions before the Detroit Lions game against the Carolina Panthers at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023.
(Junfu Han, Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Taylor Decker celebrates and high-fives fans after the Detroit Lions' win against the Minnesota Vikings at Ford Field on Jan. 5, 2025 in Detroit.
(Mike Mulholland, Getty Images)
Detroit Lions left tackle Taylor Decker celebrates the 24-14 win over the Green Bay Packers as he exits the field at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024.
(Junfu Han, Detroit Free Press)
LANDOVER, MARYLAND - NOVEMBER 09: Penei Sewell #58 and Taylor Decker #68 of the Detroit Lions celebrate after their team's 44-22 victory against the Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium on November 09, 2025 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
(Greg Fiume, Getty Images)
Detroit Lions offensive tackle Taylor Decker (68) gets ready for a play against Philadelphia Eagles during the second half at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Sunday, November 16, 2025.
(Junfu Han, Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Detroit Lions guard Graham Glasgow, left, talks to offensive tackle Taylor Decker after practice during training camp at Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park on Sunday, July 20, 2025.
(Junfu Han, Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff and left tackle Taylor Decker walk out from the tunnel and get ready to take the field against the Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Md. on Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025.
(Junfu Han, Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Oct 20, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Lions offensive tackle Taylor Decker (68) against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images
(Lon Horwedel, Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff and left tackle Taylor Decker walk out from the tunnel and get ready to take the field against the Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Md. on Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025.
(Junfu Han, Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Detroit Lions offensive tackle Taylor Decker (68) warms up ahead of the Philadelphia Eagles game at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Sunday, November 16, 2025.
(Junfu Han, Detroit Free Press)
Detroit Lions guard Tate Ratledge (69), tackle Taylor Decker (68) and quarterback Jared Goff (16) take the field for the first half against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis., on Sunday, September 7, 2025.
(Junfu Han, Detroit Free Press)
Taylor Decker of the Detroit Lions plays against the Cleveland Browns at Ford Field on Sept. 28, 2025 in Detroit.
(Gregory Shamus, Getty Images)
Detroit Lions offensive tackle Taylor Decker (68) practices during training camp at Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park on Monday, July 28, 2025.
(Junfu Han, Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell hugs offensive tackle Taylor Decker (68) during warmup before the Dallas Cowboys game at Ford Field in Detroit on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025.
(Junfu Han, Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Nov 2, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Lions tackle Taylor Decker (68) enters the field before the game against the Minnesota Vikings at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: David Reginek-Imagn Images
(David Reginek, David Reginek-Imagn Images)
Detroit Lions offensive tackle Taylor Decker (68) leads a huddle before a game against the New York Giants at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025.
(Finn Gomez, Detroit Free Press)
Detroit Lions offensive tackle Taylor Decker (68) signs autographs on the back of Lilliana Lauretti, 1, of St. Clair Shores during training camp at Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park on Monday, July 28, 2025.
(Junfu Han, Detroit Free Press)
Penei Sewell and Taylor Decker celebrate the Detroit Lions' 44-22 victory against the Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium on Nov. 9, 2025 in Landover, Maryland.
(Greg Fiume, Getty Images)
Detroit Lions offensive tackle Taylor Decker (68) and center Frank Ragnow (77) walk off the field after training camp Wednesday, July 26, 2023.
(Kirthmon F. Dozier, Detroit Free Press)
Detroit Lions head coach Jim Caldwell and first-round draft pick, Ohio State offensive tackle Taylor Decker, take pictures during a press conference at the practice facility in Allen Park on Friday, May 29, 2016.
(Kirthmon F. Dozier, Detroit Free Press)
1/20
Detroit Lions' Taylor Decker: A look at his time with the team
Detroit Lions left tackle Taylor Decker takes the field during player introductions before the Detroit Lions game against the Carolina Panthers at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023.
(Junfu Han, Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
1/20
Detroit Lions' Taylor Decker: A look at his time with the team
Detroit Lions left tackle Taylor Decker takes the field during player introductions before the Detroit Lions game against the Carolina Panthers at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023.
(Junfu Han, Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
2/20
Detroit Lions' Taylor Decker: A look at his time with the team
Taylor Decker celebrates and high-fives fans after the Detroit Lions' win against the Minnesota Vikings at Ford Field on Jan. 5, 2025 in Detroit.
(Mike Mulholland, Getty Images)
3/20
Detroit Lions' Taylor Decker: A look at his time with the team
Detroit Lions left tackle Taylor Decker celebrates the 24-14 win over the Green Bay Packers as he exits the field at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024.
(Junfu Han, Detroit Free Press)
4/20
Detroit Lions' Taylor Decker: A look at his time with the team
LANDOVER, MARYLAND - NOVEMBER 09: Penei Sewell #58 and Taylor Decker #68 of the Detroit Lions celebrate after their team's 44-22 victory against the Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium on November 09, 2025 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
(Greg Fiume, Getty Images)
5/20
Detroit Lions' Taylor Decker: A look at his time with the team
Detroit Lions offensive tackle Taylor Decker (68) gets ready for a play against Philadelphia Eagles during the second half at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Sunday, November 16, 2025.
(Junfu Han, Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
6/20
Detroit Lions' Taylor Decker: A look at his time with the team
Detroit Lions guard Graham Glasgow, left, talks to offensive tackle Taylor Decker after practice during training camp at Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park on Sunday, July 20, 2025.
(Junfu Han, Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
7/20
Detroit Lions' Taylor Decker: A look at his time with the team
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff and left tackle Taylor Decker walk out from the tunnel and get ready to take the field against the Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Md. on Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025.
(Junfu Han, Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
8/20
Detroit Lions' Taylor Decker: A look at his time with the team
Oct 20, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Lions offensive tackle Taylor Decker (68) against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images
(Lon Horwedel, Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images)
9/20
Detroit Lions' Taylor Decker: A look at his time with the team
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff and left tackle Taylor Decker walk out from the tunnel and get ready to take the field against the Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Md. on Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025.
(Junfu Han, Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
10/20
Detroit Lions' Taylor Decker: A look at his time with the team
Detroit Lions offensive tackle Taylor Decker (68) warms up ahead of the Philadelphia Eagles game at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Sunday, November 16, 2025.
(Junfu Han, Detroit Free Press)
11/20
Detroit Lions' Taylor Decker: A look at his time with the team
Detroit Lions guard Tate Ratledge (69), tackle Taylor Decker (68) and quarterback Jared Goff (16) take the field for the first half against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis., on Sunday, September 7, 2025.
(Junfu Han, Detroit Free Press)
12/20
Detroit Lions' Taylor Decker: A look at his time with the team
Taylor Decker of the Detroit Lions plays against the Cleveland Browns at Ford Field on Sept. 28, 2025 in Detroit.
(Gregory Shamus, Getty Images)
13/20
Detroit Lions' Taylor Decker: A look at his time with the team
Detroit Lions offensive tackle Taylor Decker (68) practices during training camp at Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park on Monday, July 28, 2025.
(Junfu Han, Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
14/20
Detroit Lions' Taylor Decker: A look at his time with the team
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell hugs offensive tackle Taylor Decker (68) during warmup before the Dallas Cowboys game at Ford Field in Detroit on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025.
(Junfu Han, Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
15/20
Detroit Lions' Taylor Decker: A look at his time with the team
Nov 2, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Lions tackle Taylor Decker (68) enters the field before the game against the Minnesota Vikings at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: David Reginek-Imagn Images
(David Reginek, David Reginek-Imagn Images)
16/20
Detroit Lions' Taylor Decker: A look at his time with the team
Detroit Lions offensive tackle Taylor Decker (68) leads a huddle before a game against the New York Giants at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025.
(Finn Gomez, Detroit Free Press)
17/20
Detroit Lions' Taylor Decker: A look at his time with the team
Detroit Lions offensive tackle Taylor Decker (68) signs autographs on the back of Lilliana Lauretti, 1, of St. Clair Shores during training camp at Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park on Monday, July 28, 2025.
(Junfu Han, Detroit Free Press)
18/20
Detroit Lions' Taylor Decker: A look at his time with the team
Penei Sewell and Taylor Decker celebrate the Detroit Lions' 44-22 victory against the Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium on Nov. 9, 2025 in Landover, Maryland.
(Greg Fiume, Getty Images)
19/20
Detroit Lions' Taylor Decker: A look at his time with the team
Detroit Lions offensive tackle Taylor Decker (68) and center Frank Ragnow (77) walk off the field after training camp Wednesday, July 26, 2023.
(Kirthmon F. Dozier, Detroit Free Press)
20/20
Detroit Lions' Taylor Decker: A look at his time with the team
Detroit Lions head coach Jim Caldwell and first-round draft pick, Ohio State offensive tackle Taylor Decker, take pictures during a press conference at the practice facility in Allen Park on Friday, May 29, 2016.
(Kirthmon F. Dozier, Detroit Free Press)
A first-round pick by the Lions in 2016, Decker, 32, has played all 10 of his NFL seasons for the team.
He would be one of the best left tackles on the market if he decides to play again this fall, though it's unclear if he'll suit up for another team.
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In 2024, after Decker signed a three-year, $60 million extension with the Lions, he said he couldn't imagine playing for another team.
"This is where I wanted to be. I had pretty much no interest in going to any other team,"Decker said at the time.
The Lions have a history of making players repay part of their signing bonus when they retire early. By granting his release, the Lions saved $11.6 million in cap room but cannot recoup any of Decker's bonus money.
On Monday, the Lions opened free agency by adding two potential starters to their offensive line incenter Cade Maysandtackle Larry Borom.
