Detroit unexpectedly frees Taylor Decker. Could this veteran tackle reunite with Ben Johnson, solidifying the Bears' blindside for 2026?
The Chicago Bears have two needs along the offensive line with the recent retirement of center Drew Dalman.
The other need is for a left tackle, following the injury to Ozzy Trapilo in the Wild Card. Trapilo sustained a patellar injury that is expected to sideline him for most of the 2026 season.
The Bears re-signed a depth piece at left tackle, Theo Benedet, who has starting experience there. Benedet came in for Braxton Jones after he was benched and started until Week 12.
Jones has yet to sign a deal to return to the team in 2026, but he could be another option the Bears consider for a short-term fix.
Another possibility for the Bears came to light after a wave of trades and cuts around the NFL on Friday.
Via NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Detroit Lions left tackle Taylor Decker announced on his Instagram that he was going to be released by the organization after making the request.
A reunion with Ben Johnson at the Bears could be what the team needs to secure the left tackle position until Trapilo is healthy. Especially since Decker doesn't have to wait until the start of free agency to sign with a new team.
Johnson and Decker were together at the Lions during the current Bears head coach's tenure with the organization, which started in 2019.
At 32, Decker may be willing to accept a one-year deal with the Bears since he is no longer in his prime. Plus, that would be beneficial for the Bears, considering Decker hasn't played a full season since 2022 due to injury.
Decker himself went on record in December, saying he would ideally want to play one more season in the NFL at most, even though he was mulling retirement.
What better way to cap off your NFL career than by reuniting with one of your former assistant coaches?
Now, one thing that Jones has that Decker doesn't is familiarity with Johnson's system. Jones does have that advantage over someone like Decker, who hasn't already been in the offense and knows how it's run.
Jones would also be a much cheaper option than Decker. Jones' market value is just under $5 million, while Decker's is closer to $21 million.
However, Decker could be willing to join the Bears on a cheaper deal if he wants to play just one more season in the NFL with someone he already knows. Plus, he is a much more experienced starter than Jones, who was benched in favor of Benedet last season.
There are a lot of options that the Bears could go with at left tackle for 2026, and the Lions may have just given them one more to choose from.