Lions GM Brad Holmes Informs $85M Veteran Star He Is Being Traded — Agents Now Exploring Next Team Options

Change is beginning to take shape in Detroit as the Lions transition into a pivotal 2026 offseason.

After a 2025 campaign that exposed growing cracks along the offensive line, Detroit now faces some of the most difficult roster decisions of the Brad Holmes era — particularly when it comes to aging veterans and long-term salary cap flexibility.

According to league sources, one of the franchise’s highest-paid and longest-tenured players has been formally informed that his future with the organization is under evaluation. That player is Taylor Decker.

The veteran left tackle is entering the final stretch of a contract that once represented the financial ceiling of his career: a four-year, $85 million extension, the richest deal he has ever signed with the Lions. Now 33 years old, Decker carries a sizable cap figure into 2026 — one that front offices around the league would immediately scrutinize given recent performance trends.

Those warning signs surfaced clearly during the 2025 season. Decker battled durability concerns, experienced noticeable regression in both pass protection and run blocking, and struggled to consistently anchor the left side against elite edge rushers. Multiple advanced grading services placed him in the lower tier among starting left tackles, a sharp contrast to the dependable presence he once provided.

From a financial standpoint, the situation is equally complex. A trade or release would allow Detroit to free meaningful cap space at a critical juncture, while absorbing a manageable amount of dead money. With several young core players approaching extension windows, the front office must carefully balance loyalty against long-term roster construction.

Internally, the Lions believe the timing may be unavoidable. Younger, more cost-controlled linemen are already being evaluated as potential successors, and the coaching staff is placing increased emphasis on athleticism and flexibility up front as the offense continues to evolve.

Sources indicate that Decker’s representatives have begun monitoring the league landscape, quietly gauging interest from teams seeking veteran left tackle stability. While no move is imminent, conversations are expected to intensify as the offseason progresses and teams reassess offensive line depth.

For Detroit, this moment is not a rejection of Decker’s legacy, but a recognition of where the roster must go next. He has been a cornerstone, a leader, and a stabilizing force during the Lions’ rise. But in the modern NFL, age, cap numbers, and performance trends leave little room for sentiment — and as Brad Holmes continues reshaping the Lions for sustained contention, even the most respected contracts are subject to change when the future is at stake.