Ozzy Trapilo is recovering from a torn patellar tendon in his knee. Expectations are that he will miss most of the 2026 season. Braxton Jones is a free agent. As of now, the only name left the Chicago Bears have at left tackle is Theo Benedet, and he was benched twice last season. Head coach Ben Johnson is desperate to find a solution at that spot, but his options to this point have been limited. Free agency won’t have many proven names, and those who are will be wildly expensive. So one can imagine his reaction when the news broke that Taylor Decker was released.
The former Pro Bowl left tackle spent ten years with the Detroit Lions, helping them through one of their darkest periods in franchise history and all the way to the NFC championship in 2023. However, the organization is facing salary-cap constraints and was reluctant to offer him an extension. When it became clear that no agreement could be reached, Decker requested his release. It was granted. At 32 years old, he is a free agent for the first time. It might not stay that way for long.
Reuniting with Johnson is a no-brainer for Taylor Decker.
He spent three seasons playing for the Bears’ head coach from 2022 through 2024, during which he played the best football of his career. There is an obvious trust and admiration there. Chicago sorely needs a short-term solution at that spot. Decker hopes to play one more season, most likely for a contender. The Bears just went to the playoffs. Everything lines up perfectly. Decker gets to play for a coach he loves in a division he already knows well. Johnson gets his stability at left tackle while Trapilo has time to heal.
This would allow Chicago to focus on fixing the center position without being forced to go after a tackle in the draft. Experts already predict there will be a run on that spot in the 1st round. The odds of the Bears landing one they like would be remote. Adding Taylor Decker means they can focus their efforts on shoring up the defense with as much young talent as possible. This development could be a massive break for the organization. It comes down to whether they can close the deal quickly before other teams get involved.
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| Season | Team | Rank / Qualification | Key Performance Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Lions | 41st of 89 | Ended season with a 67.9 overall PFF grade. |
| 2024 | Lions | Pro Bowler | Earned his first career Pro Bowl selection. |
| 2023 | Lions | Divisional Top 15 | Graded 85.8 during the postseason; allowed zero sacks in the playoffs. |
| 2022 | Lions | Team Leader | Started all 17 games; O-line allowed second-fewest sacks in NFL. |
| 2021 | Lions | 6th (Pass Block) | Ranked 6th in pass-blocking (84.0 grade) among all tackles. |
| 2020 | Lions | 12th Overall | Career-high 82.0 PFF grade; ranked 8th in pass-blocking. |
Decker would at least buy the Bears time.
His addition would ensure, barring an injury, that left tackle would be situated at least for 2026. That gives Coach Johnson and his staff to assess two things. The first is whether Trapilo recovers well from his knee injury and can play at the same level he did before it. If not, it buys them time to assess the left tackle class in 2027. The hope would be that the team doesn’t have as many pressing needs by then and can focus its draft efforts on finding one. This is why it’s important to remember you can’t fix everything in one go.
Sometimes, a team must be willing to compromise and search for temporary solutions. You’d be hard-pressed to find many more accomplished than Taylor Decker. He fits everything Bears fans love: tough, rugged, dependable, and smart. He knows Johnson’s offense inside and out, so there wouldn’t be an adjustment period. His leadership is highly touted. He and Joe Thuney could form a fun pairing, even if it’s just for one year. After what happened with Drew Dalman, this could be a stroke of good fortune for Chicago.
