Taylor Decker opens up on Detroit Lions divorce

As the free agency period continues with the 2026 NFL draft approaching, former Detroit Lions offensive tackle Taylor Decker opened up on what led to his surprising March 9 release from the franchise after Decker indicated his intention to return to the Motor City for the 2026 season just days before. In an exclusive interview with Justin Rogers of Detroit Football Network , the former 2016 No. 16 overall pick shared his perspective on how and why things fell apart so quickly with the Lions .

After Decker publicly detailed how injuries and time away from his family had started to wear on him, both Decker and the Lions knew that retirement was an option for the veteran left tackle following last season. But, according to Decker in his conversation with Detroit Football Network, two things were clear in his exit interviews with Detroit : the Lions wanted him back and Decker was not interested in taking a pay cut. However, when both sides reconvened after Decker announced his intentions to return for an 11th NFL season, Decker said he was shocked when the team told his agent that the Lions only wanted Decker back if he agreed to a pay cut.

From there, negotiations broke down and Decker requested his release . Decker said that he talked to Lions head coach Dan Campbell about his decision to return the day before he announced it. According to Decker, he tried to reach out to Lions general manager Brad Holmes about his decision to return, but he did not get a responding call or text.

Holmes said last week that the only thing that could have been considered surprising was the timing of Decker's public announcement that he was returning. “I think a lot of those situations that happen, it all starts with communication and what you communicate with the player, what you communicate with the player’s agent, and so it starts there,” Holmes said. “There was really no surprises.