According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Detroit Lions are signing free agent offensive tackle Larry Borom. Terms of the deal are not yet available.
Borom, who is a Detroit native, was formerly a fifth-round pick for the Chicago Bears in 2021 after playing at Missouri. Over the course of four seasons, Borom started 27 games for Chicago. After his rookie deal expired, the Bears let him hit free agency, and he signed a one-year, $2.5 million deal with the Miami Dolphins in 2025. Last year, he started 11 games for the Dolphins, and per PFF, he allowed just two sacks in 404 pass blocking snaps.
Most of Borom’s NFL experience has come at right tackle, but he’s also filled in at left tackle and both guard spots. He’s logged at least 320 offensive snaps in all five years in the NFL.
> From Week 6 through the end of the regular season, Borom quietly graded as PFF’s 35th-highest graded offensive tackle (70.3). That mark was 10 spots ahead of Jamaree Salyer, 13 spots ahead of Taylor Decker, and six spots behind Yosh Nijman during that stretch.
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> Borom does have some length limitations at right tackle, but he’s a dense, sturdy athlete with a powerful upper body who brings plenty of force as a drive blocker. He still needs to rein in some control issues, but his punch timing and placement in pass protection have improved enough to take advantage of his natural power.
For the Lions, Borom fills a potential immediate need given left tackle Taylor Decker’s release request. While the Lions have yet to officially release Decker, Lions coach Dan Campbell said earlier this offseason that Detroit was going to need tackle help regardless of whether Decker was returning or not.
“One way or another, we’re going to need somebody that can play over there and that can help us if we need them in a crunch or we need them as a starter. That’s important,” Campbell said.
Borom gives the Lions a starting option at either tackle position, giving Detroit the chance to move Penei Sewell from right tackle to left tackle, if they please. However, the Lions should still be considered to be in the market for a starting-capable tackle, be it in free agency or the draft. Borom has never been a full-time starter, the Lions did also lose reserve tackle Dan Skipper to retirement, and it’s unknown where Giovanni Manu is in his development.