Ozzy Trapilo is recovering from a torn patellar tendon in his knee. Expectations are that he will miss most of the 2026 season. Braxton Jones is a free agent. As of now, the only name left the Chicago Bears have at left tackle is Theo Benedet, and he was benched twice last season. Head coach Ben Johnson is desperate to find a solution at that spot, but his options to this point have been limited. Free agency won’t have many proven names, and those who are will be wildly expensive. So one can imagine his reaction when the news broke that Taylor Decker was released.
The former Pro Bowl left tackle spent ten years with the Detroit Lions, helping them through one of their darkest periods in franchise history and all the way to the NFC championship in 2023. However, the organization is facing salary-cap constraints and was reluctant to offer him an extension. When it became clear that no agreement could be reached, Decker requested his release. It was granted. At 32 years old, he is a free agent for the first time. It might not stay that way for long.
Lions LT Taylor Decker, the team’s longest-tenured player, announced he requested and received his release after contract talks broke down. pic.twitter.com/VGrQvBCCYW
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 6, 2026
Reuniting with Johnson is a no-brainer for Taylor Decker.
He spent three seasons playing for the Bears’ head coach from 2022 through 2024, during which he played the best football of his career. There is an obvious trust and admiration there. Chicago sorely needs a short-term solution at that spot. Decker hopes to play one more season, most likely for a contender. The Bears just went to the playoffs. Everything lines up perfectly. Decker gets to play for a coach he loves in a division he already knows well. Johnson gets his stability at left tackle while Trapilo has time to heal.
This would allow Chicago to focus on fixing the center position without being forced to go after a tackle in the draft. Experts already predict there will be a run on that spot in the 1st round. The odds of the Bears landing one they like would be remote. Adding Taylor Decker means they can focus their efforts on shoring up the defense with as much young talent as possible. This development could be a massive break for the organization. It comes down to whether they can close the deal quickly before other teams get involved.
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