Could Extensions Cost Detroit Lions Taylor Decker?

Examining ramifications of Lions' upcoming extensions.

Jan 28, 2024; Santa Clara, California, USA; Detroit Lions offensive tackle Taylor Decker arrives for the NFC Championship game. / Junfu Han-USA TODAY Sports

The Detroit Lions have made a flurry of moves this offseason. Yet, the biggest ones could be coming still.

After acquiring Carlton Davis via trade and signing DJ Reader, Kevin Zeitler and Amik Robertson among other free agents, the Lions could still hand out multiple extensions that will eat into their future cap space.

Among other candidates, quarterback Jared Goff and wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown are in line to receive hefty multi-year extensions.

One player who carries a hefty cap hit into the 2024 season is offensive tackle Taylor Decker. The veteran who protects Goff's blind side will count as a $19.1 million cap hit against the Lions this upcoming season. One analyst went as far as to say there is buzz about the Lions parting ways with the veteran's contract ahead of the upcoming season.

On one hand, this is plausible. The Lions have managed to acquire talent this offseason, as they entered with one of the league's highest available amounts. As it stands, the Lions hold $25 million in effective cap space available.

This amount would increase by just under $10 million by releasing Decker, as he carries a dead cap hit of $9.8 million. If Detroit were to decide to do this, they could increase their chances of acquiring another star on a hefty contract.

On the other hand, though, Decker is set to be a free agent after this season. If the Lions want him off the books, they could wait until the end of the season and allow him to play out his current deal. He's entering his ninth NFL campaign, all of which have been in a Detroit uniform.

With his production, it's hard to see the Lions parting ways with him ahead of what is expected to be a push for a Super Bowl championship in 2024. He was Detroit's fifth-highest graded offensive player by Pro Football Focus in 2023, with an overall offensive grade of 81.1.

Decker allowed 44 pressures on 688 pass-protection snaps between the regular and postseason. His pass-rush grade via PFF was 79.4, which was among the best in his career. The veteran has been a very stable presence throughout his career, as he has finished with a pass blocking grade above 80 in four of his eight NFL campaigns.

In fact, he's never finished with a grade in that category less than 73.

Decker has also become a valuable locker room presence. He was truly an anchor for last year's team that made franchise history by tying the regular season wins record and pushing the group to its first division title in 30 years.

As the team's left tackle, he's been a big part of the organization building one of the league's best offensive line units. If he were to be released and the Lions elected to draft his replacement, it would be a tough task for a rookie to step in and immediately perform at that high of a level.

As a result, it's hard to see the Lions simply parting ways with the Ohio State product ahead of a pivotal season.