Training camp is about to begin. Less than a week separates the Chicago Bears from beginning preparations for the 2026 season. Head coach Ben Johnson is determined to improve on the team’s accomplishments last year. That likely means a tough, competitive grind that will push his players to the limits of their mental and physical endurance. All the while, general manager Ryan Poles is left with a dilemma. Has he made every move possible to get this team ready? If we’re being honest, no. The Bears really should consider making one more run at Taylor Decker.
The former Pro Bowl left tackle remains unsigned. It’s been months since the Detroit Lions unceremoniously cut him after a decade of service. Like most unfortunate outcomes, this happened over a money disagreement. Now Decker faces a career crossroads. Last season proved he can still play at a high level. There is certain to be interest from around the league. Chicago has a glaring hole at left tackle. Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report believes they should make another run at him.
Would Taylor Decker listen?
The fact that veteran left tackle Taylor Decker even became available this offseason was surprising. The longtime Detroit Lions starter was under contract for the 2026 season but was granted his release after he and the team failed to work out a revised contract.
And by “revised contract,” we mean that the Lions asked Decker to take a pay cut.
Decker is available now, and while he’ll turn 33 next month, he’s still capable of filling a starting role. According to Pro Football Focus, Decker allowed just two sacks in 2025 while grading out as the 41st overall offensive tackle.
At this point in his career, Decker would make the most sense for a legitimate contender looking to add some insurance to its offensive line. The Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Rams spring to mind.
Decker is confronted with a harsh reality.
He’d always hoped to play his entire career in Detroit. That was the plan. The man clearly wasn’t ready for the possibility that the Lions would be willing to move on. Everybody felt Chicago was an obvious landing spot. They needed a proven left tackle to fortify their offensive line. Johnson had been his coach for three years when he was Detroit’s offensive coordinator. It was a natural fit. Yet rumors indicated the left tackle couldn’t bring himself to consider joining the Bears. To him, it would be a betrayal of all that time and effort he put into the Lions’ success.
There were too many conflicting emotions about signing with a division rival. One would’ve thought Taylor Decker would just sign elsewhere. That hasn’t happened. Some wonder if he may just retire. He’s in his mid-30s. The wear and tear on the body really starts to show around that age for offensive linemen. The only true reason for him to keep playing is the pursuit of that elusive Super Bowl ring. For some, that isn’t enough. Decker might be content to call it a career.
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Good combo block on the first play of the game from Lions LG 74 Kayode Awosika and Lions LT 68 Taylor Decker. As Decker gets to the linebacker, I love seeing Awosika drive his feet and continue to drive the defender downfield. #OnePride pic.twitter.com/0pNORFO5bJ
— Russell Brown (@RussNFLDraft) November 1, 2023
The Bears should make one more pitch.
As of right now, their left tackle situation remains unsettled. Most agree that veteran Braxton Jones is the favorite to claim the starting job. His leg is finally healthy after it hampered his performance last season. He is the most experienced of the options and knows the offense. Former 1st round pick Jedrick Wills has the talent advantage, but he hasn’t played in over a year. Theo Benedet has added some good weight since last year, but his limitations haven’t changed. Kiran Amegadjie is still in the mix as well. Yet nothing suggests he is a serious contender at this stage.
Are any of those options better than Decker? No, they are not. If the Bears see the Super Bowl as their endgame this season, then leaving the left tackle position in the hands of somebody like Jones or Wills feels too risky. They need a proven commodity. Decker knows this offense. He played the best football of his career in it. While he may no longer be in his prime, it isn’t crazy to believe he has one more good season left in him. The Bears have six days left to make one more pitch. They should take it.
Erik Lambert
Erik Lambert
I’m a football writer with more than 15 years covering the Chicago Bears. I hold a master’s degree in the Teaching of Writing from Columbia College Chicago, and my work on Sports Mockery has earned more than twenty million views. I focus on providing analysis, context, and reporting on Bears strategy, roster decisions, and team developments, and I’ve shared insight on 670 The Score, ESPN 1000, and football podcasts in the U.S. and Europe.