As a fan, it would make a nice story for Taylor Decker to finish his career with the Lions. But will he?
BTW, I’m not bashing Decker. I’m trying to understand the possibilities, especially when considering this year’s draft which seems deep at OT.
Is it fair to say that Decker has been upper tier though not quite elite? And that he epitomizes the qualities that Brad and Dan value? He’s coming off of one of his better seasons according to PFF, though OTC valued him at $8.5 which seems pretty low. He’ll be 32 at the start of the 2025 season and let’s presume he’s healthy.
Is another contract a slam dunk? Or only with a hometown discount because of age and other mouths to feed? Would the probable return of a 2026 3rd round comp pick factor in?
I think the Lions have settled in on spending big bucks for the offensive line. The moneyball move would be to trade or let Decker walk since Sewell will be getting LT money soon, so why not move him there and look for a bargain at RT? That mindset views having Decker and Sewell as an eventual problem because of the expense to keep both. It looks to me like the Lions are ok with making that investment in order to keep the line strong on both edges.
The money ball move is to get a hometown discount for Decker’s last few seasons.
Pay Sewell market $. Pay Decker well but Taylor knows what happens to aging players chasing a ring. Taylor will take less IF the vibe is strong and we are building towards winning big.
Decker, Ragnow, Sewell and Glashow will all retire Lions and Jonah might too.
At his end of season interview, Decker said he does t want to go anywhere and wants to retire a Detroit Lion. I doubt he is unreasonable in his asking price,
Wouldn’t be surprised to see another two years and 30mil tacked onto the current deal, but is below market value, but plenty reasonable at his age.
I think that is probably how it works out as long as he’s viable as a starting LT. And viable means keeping Goff from getting killed in the pocket. I really hope all sides in the Goff negotiation agree on that necessity and the OL expense that implies.
I saw that @TCLion posted the story about Decker wanting to be Lifer Lion right after I started this thread. I hope Decker plays at level like Kelce did until retirement. If he does, well, then, this thread…nevermind. It will be a delicate negotiation for Brad, I’d think.
Typically the moneyball move on the OL is with the interior of the line, not with the tackles. You don’t want to mess with good tackles.
However a few teams do. You could argue the Chiefs did when they let Orlando Brown go, but then they went out and signed pretty expensive tackles anyway, so I don’t know. The Patriots counted on Scarnecchia for years to squeeze performance out of lesser, cheaper tackles.
Some teams will move on from good tackles for non-moneyball reasons, typically when they aren’t very good and trading OTs, like QBs, could bring a good return in trade. The Dolphins traded Tunsil for a mint to sort of jumpstart their current situation.
Other teams get their hands forced because they don’t want to pay. Washington traded Trent Williams away after he basically sat out two seasons. Duane Brown did a similar thing in Houston.
I personally think it’s very foolish to mess with a good thing. I’m all for drafting a guy who can play both OG and OT to serve as our temporary swing tackle while starting at OG, and if he shows over the course of his contract that he can play tackle, only then would you move on. A succession plan, basically.
However I’m completely fine playing moneyball inside. Cheap studs are found in there all the time.
Some OTs can play at a high level well into their 30s. I’m OK with having serious money invested in LT, C and RT, because those are foundational positions, so I wouldn’t be in any hurry to move on from Decker unless his physical measurements are in sharp decline. At the same time, it’s worth trying to stay ahead of that decline and spending a mid round pick on a tackle who can back up Decker and Sewell and perhaps eventually usurp Decker’s level at RT whereupon you move Sewell to LT.
He’s here for the foreseeable future. But, I’m totally okay with drafting an OL high that could potentially be his heir apparent if things go south via injury or decline in play. I’ve made it very clear I am absolutely on board with us investing heavily into OL/DL. Especially OL for this team. The OL is the heartbeat of this team.
That’s where I’m at too for now. Goff NEEDS to be protected for the offense to function properly. Then there’s the 6 OL staple of BJ’s offense. Kiran Amegahjie with a small TD from 29? That’s my current pipe dream–which changes like the weather.
I love Decker.
And I hated the pick when it happened. He proved my dumbass wrong.
With all that said…
I think 2024 is his last year in Detroit. Just how the business works unfortunately. I hope they make it work, but I’m prepared and ready. Maybe Sorsdal RT? I fully expect a Tackle drafted somewhere this year.
Out of all the players Denizens suggest would resign at a team friendly number Decker is the one that “may” do it. Still won’t be cheap but wouldn’t be killing the team either.
