Former Detroit Lions $60-Million Starter Still Looking for Next NFL Team

Taylor Decker is entering the 2026 regular season without a team more than five months after Detroit granted his release. The former Detroit Lions left tackle, a 2016 first-round pick, previously planned for an 11th NFL season but never received a contract as training camp and preseason began. ESPN still lists him atop its ranking of available free agents. Decker’s situation is notable because two years ago he signed a three-year, $60 million extension in 2024 with $31.83 million guaranteed at signing, including a scheduled $18.2 million 2026 pay. After returning from a 2025 injury-plagued campaign (14 games), teams reportedly hesitated over performance.