Lions general manager Brad Holmes announced during a Monday appearance on 97.1FM radio that left tackle Taylor Decker has signed an extension. His agent confirmed the news, noting this can be a three-year, $60MM agreement.
Decker will receive $31.83MM guaranteed on his latest Lions pact. He was entering the ultimate 12 months of his deal, one which was set to pay him $13.7MM. The 29-year-old has now landed a raise, though, together with added long-term security. Decker will probably be on the books through 2027.
The previous first-rounder has spent his entire eight-year profession in Detroit, and he has began each of his 116 combined regular and postseason contests. Decker has remained a consistent performer with respect to pass protection specifically, and his PFF evaluations have been regular through the years. He received the ninth-highest overall grade amongst tackles in 2023 (81.1), his best showing in that regard thus far.
Extension talks between Decker and the Lions began this spring, ahead of an offseason through which several big-money deals were worked out. The likes of quarterback Jared Goff, receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and right tackle Penei Sewell each inked contracts at or near the highest of their respective markets in recent months. Decker’s $20MM AAV will move him into seventh amongst blindside blockers, a notable move up the pecking order from where he previously was.
Decker recently expressed a positive outlook on where contract talks stood, so today’s news comes as little surprise. Along with his deal now official, each members of Detroit’s tackle tandem are in place for the foreseeable future. Any query of whether or not Sewell would transition to the left side (no less than any time soon) will probably be put to rest. The Lions chosen Canadian college product Giovanni Manu within the fourth round of the draft, but he projects as a long-term developmental option. With Decker on the books, Manu is not going to must be rushed into motion.
The Lions’ success in quite a lot of categories last 12 months stemmed largely from the play of their offensive line. That unit will return Decker, Sewell, left guard Graham Glasgow and center Frank Ragnow. Former right guard starter Jonah Jackson departed in free agency, but Detroit added a capable substitute in the shape of Kevin Zeitler. Expectations will subsequently once more be high up front for the team in 2024 and beyond with Decker remaining on the blindside.
