Brad Holmes Seeks Clarity on Taylor Decker as Lions Balance Cap and Tackle Plans

The Detroit Lions are pursuing clarity on taylor decker’s playing intentions after questions surfaced at the NFL Combine, a development that matters because his decision affects roster construction, salary-cap flexibility, and the team’s plan to address the left tackle spot this offseason.

Taylor Decker: uncertainty, then an update

At the Combine, general manager Brad Holmes emphasized the organization’s patience as they gave Decker space to reflect after a long season but made clear the team hoped to have a definitive answer in the next couple of weeks with the start of the new league year approaching. That window for clarity was tied directly to the team’s need to finalize positional priorities and cap planning.

Subsequently, an update indicated that Decker announced he is returning for the 2026 season. That development directly alters the immediate retirement question but does not end the Lions’ offseason calculus; coaching staff comments at the same event made clear the left tackle position remains a priority regardless of Decker’s choice.

Why the left tackle room remains a focus

Coach leadership explained that while Decker has been given time and space to decide, the club still needs to find a player who can handle the left tackle role in a pinch or as a starter. The coaching staff noted that even in the event of Decker’s return, there are management considerations related to his deployment that will make adding or developing another tackle necessary.

That dual-track approach—preparing for Decker’s potential retirement while also planning for his return—drives the Lions to explore multiple solutions for the position, whether that means adding depth who can start in a pinch or acquiring a more permanent option through free agency or the draft.

Cap implications and roster timing

Decker’s contract status was highlighted as a material factor in the team’s offseason decisions. The team noted the need to understand how his decision will impact the salary cap and the overall resources available to address the offensive line. If Decker were to retire, the roster would gain additional cap space that could be redirected to find his replacement, but with his announced return, that particular source of cap relief would not materialize.

The timing of a final decision was tied to key offseason calendar points outlined at the Combine. Team leaders stressed the importance of clarity before the start of the new league year and the free agency tampering window, so that the front office can make informed choices about whether to pursue external options or rely on internal flexibility.

What the Combine remarks reveal about plan B

Comments from the club’s management and coaching staff at the Combine suggest the Lions will continue to prioritize the offensive line broadly and the left tackle spot specifically. They signaled openness to multiple paths — developing internal candidates, targeting free-agent help, or addressing the need in the draft — while acknowledging that personnel decisions will depend on final clarity about veteran availability.

Even with Decker’s announced return for 2026, the organization conveyed that it will proceed with measures to ensure depth and readiness at left tackle. That approach reflects a desire to balance short-term performance and player management needs with longer-term roster stability.

Next steps and what to watch

• Front-office and coaching conversations will continue as the team aligns roster moves with the league calendar.
• The club is likely to pursue options that provide both immediate depth and potential starting capability at left tackle, recognizing management needs if the veteran returns.
• Cap planning and potential moves elsewhere on the offensive line will remain linked to the finality of Decker’s status and other contract decisions the team must resolve before the new league year begins.

For now, the combination of a public request for a near-term decision window and a later update about Decker’s return frames the Lions’ offseason posture: the team will prepare as if it must address left tackle while remaining adaptable to the confirmed availability of its veteran starter.