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Pro Football Focus's Bradley Locker named the Chicago Bears the ideal landing spot for former Detroit Lions left tackle Taylor Decker.
Former Detroit Lions left tackle Taylor Decker and the Chicago Bears are apparently a match made in heaven this offseason. Because as NFL free agency approaches the end of its second month, there continues to be chatter about Decker joining Detroit’s division rival.
Pro Football Focus’s Bradley Locker is the latest NFL writer to link Decker and the Bears. Locker named Chicago the “ideal landing spot” for the ex-Lions Pro Bowl left tackle.
“Even though Decker’s 67.9 overall PFF grade was his lowest since 2017, he allowed only three hits and two sacks along 525 opportunities. Further, Decker’s pass-blocking efficiency score has never ended below 96.0, indicating his reliability in pass protection,” wrote Locker.
“It’s a bit surprising that Decker hasn’t already reunited with former offensive coordinator Ben Johnson considering that Trapilo could miss most or all of 2026 due to his ruptured patella tendon suffered in the playoffs. Even though the Bears do have possible starters in Braxton Jones, Theo Benedet and Jedrick Wills Jr., the decorated veteran Decker would be a meaningful upgrade with few strings attached.”
Decker started 140 games at left tackle for the Lions over 10 years. The team selected him in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft. Decker was the No. 16 overall pick.
He made the Pro Bowl for the team in 2024.
On March 6, the left tackle requested Detroit to release him. The Lions fulfilled the request three days later.
Dave Holcomb is a sports reporter covering the NFL and MLB for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Pittsburgh Steelers and a variety of other NFL teams. Originally from Pittsburgh, Holcomb has covered college and professional sports for outlets including FanSided, Rotowire and Yardbarker. More about Dave Holcomb