Detroit Lions.
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The Detroit Lions may be coming close to a reunion with a popular, veteran player during the 2026 NFL offseason.
It’s always a sad thing when a team in the NFL has to part ways with a beloved player, but it happens on a regular basis, and that was certainly the case with the Detroit Lions and a handful of players this offseason. But, now, one popular player may actually be coming back to the Lions in a surprise move, and Lions followers would be happy about this one.
Now, it’s worth noting that the Detroit Lions will take care of some of their roster holes in the 2026 NFL draft, which is slated for April in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. But not all of them.
One hole is having a solid offensive tackle. “After releasing left tackle Taylor Decker, the Lions are in search of a new blindside protector for Jared Goff,” Kyle Dvorchak of NBC Sports states in a feature about the draft. “They could move Penei Sewell to the left side. Had one of the top left tackle prospects not been on the board in this hypothetical draft, they would have done just that (hypothetically). Instead, they take a top-notch tackle here and keep Sewell in his natural spot.”
He projects that the Lions will draft Spencer Fano out of Utah for the role. But, what if the Lions bring back a favorite player, too?
Detroit Lions May Reunite With a Beloved Player and Bring Him Back to the Roster
The Lions have made some moves during the NFL offseason, such as signing veteran Larry Borom to a one-year, $5 million deal. But, they’re going to miss starting left tackle Taylor Decker during the 2026-27 season, since they let him walk in free agency.
But, they may bring Decker back. He’s still a free agent and available to any team in the NFL. He could come back at a discounted price.
In a Sunday, March 22 piece for Detroit Jock City, Ernesto Cova makes the case to bring Decker back. In the piece, he says that “the Lions might welcome Decker back with open arms if he’s willing to take a veteran’s minimum deal, as that’s probably the best deal he’ll get anywhere at this stage of the offseason.”
Cova adds, “That would allow him to remain in a comfortable environment that could help him secure a better payday next offseason.”
Former Detroit Lions Player Still Has Strong Numbers, ranking No. 41 Among 80 Eligible Offensive Tackles
According to research from Spotrac, Decker has a projected market value of two years at $42.65 million at an annual average value of $21.3 million. His Pro Football Focus grade is 67.9, which ranks him 41st among 89 eligible offensive tackles. So, he still has solid numbers.
“It might be awkward, but at the end of the day,” Cova says, “a reunion looks like the only win-win situation for all parties, leaving time to tell if it’ll be the Lions or Decker who makes the first move.”
The Detroit Lions could do worse than to bring Decker back. Sure, he’s not lighting the world on fire with his moves, but the Lions don’t need that. They just need a solid, reliable, veteran player, and he fills that role.