INDIANAPOLIS – Taylor Decker, 32, is set to return in 2026, but the Detroit Lions still need to think about the long-term plan for their offensive line.
Decker missed three games last season dealing with a shoulder injury and hasn't played a full 17-game slate since the 2022 season. Detroit also lost last year's swing tackle, Dan Skipper, to retirement. He is now an offensive assistant on Detroit's 2026 coaching staff.
That certainly opens a need for an immediate swing tackle role and a key reserve at tackle.
This isn't a strong offensive tackle class in free agency with Green Bay's Rasheed Walker, 26, widely considered the best tackle on the market. He's listed as the No. 22 free agent on NFL.com's list of the Top 101 free agents in this year's class.
The offensive tackle class in the NFL Draft is strong and picking at No. 17 could certainly put the Lions in a position to take one of the top players.
The top two players in the class - Utah's Spencer Fano and Miami's Francis Mauigoa - likely won't last that long, but depending on how the draft plays out ahead of Detroit's No. 17 pick, players like Caleb Lomu (Utah), Kadyn Proctor (Alabama), Blake Miller (Clemson) and Monroe Freeling (Georgia) all hold first-round grades and could be options for Detroit.
Miller (6-6, 315) is an intriguing prospect who seems to check off all the boxes the Lions are looking for from a size, quickness, mentality and production standpoint. A former high school wrestler, Miller started 54 games at Clemson, the first Clemson offensive lineman to start every game over a four-year career.
"I feel like I've seen a lot of football," Miller said Saturday at the Combine. "Been a part of a lot of plays, seen a lot of different rushers and seen a lot of different schemes. I feel like that helps me. People learn by doing stuff but I'm excited to learn more. There's so much to learn in this league and there's so much knowledge in this league, I just can't wait to kind of be a sponge and soak it up."
Proctor is one of the best pound-for-pound athletes in the draft but keeping his weight at a manageable level has been a conversation with teams this week at the Combine. He's 6-foot-7, 366 pounds and was used as both a tackle and fullback at Alabama. Proctor said Saturday his ideal NFL weight will be around 350 to 355 pounds and he plans to maintain that weight at the pro level.
Freeling (6-7, 315) started every game at left tackle for the Bulldogs last season but has the length and athleticism to play both tackle spots. He's a little raw with only 16 starts under his belt, but he's a great athlete and could be a good fit for a team like Detroit with a track record of developing offensive linemen under run game coordinator and offensive line coach Hank Fraley.
"Honestly, I just think I'm athletic," Freeling said of how his game translates to the next level. "I think that's going to be my biggest skillset. Also, I think I have great sets with my technique."
View photos of the defensive backs at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine.
North Carolina defensive back Marcus Allen (02) runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Oregon defensive back Jadon Canady (03) runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
South Carolina defensive back Brandon Cisse (04) runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
TCU defensive back Bud Clark (33) participates in the Broad Jump at the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, in Indianapolis. (Gregory Payan/AP Content Services for NFL)
Washington defensive back Tacario Davis (05) runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Stephen F. Austin defensive back Charles Demmings (07) runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
North Carolina defensive back Thaddeus Dixon (08) runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Georgia defensive back Daylen Everette (09) runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Southern California defensive back Bishop Fitzgerald (35) runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Toledo defensive back Andre Fuller (10) runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
LSU defensive back A.J. Haulcy (36) runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Tennessee defensive back Colton Hood (14) runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Ohio State defensive back Davison Igbinosun (15) runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Alabama defensive back Domani Jackson (16) runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
San Diego State defensive back Chris Johnson (17) runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Arizona defensive back Dalton Johnson (38) runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
South Carolina defensive back Jalon Kilgore (39) runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Texas A&M defensive back Will Lee III (18) runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
California defensive back Hezekiah Masses (19) runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Houston defensive back Latrell McCutchin Sr. (21) runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Toledo defensive back Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (40) participates in the Broad Jump at the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, in Indianapolis. (Gregory Payan/AP Content Services for NFL)
Florida defensive back Devin Moore (22) runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Indiana defensive back Louis Moore (41) runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
SMU defensive back Ahmaad Moses (42) runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Texas defensive back Malik Muhammad (23) runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Arkansas defensive back Julian Neal (24) runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Iowa defensive back Xavier Nwankpa (43) runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Kansas State defensive back VJ Payne (44) runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Indiana defensive back D'Angelo Ponds (25) runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Missouri defensive back Toriano Pride Jr. (26) runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Washington defensive back Ephesians Prysock (27) runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Southern California defensive back Kamari Ramsey (45) participates in the Broad Jump at the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, in Indianapolis. (Gregory Payan/AP Content Services for NFL)
Duke defensive back Chandler Rivers (28) runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Nebraska defensive back DeShon Singleton (46) participates in the Broad Jump at the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, in Indianapolis. (Gregory Payan/AP Content Services for NFL)
Toledo defensive back Avery Smith (30) runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Arizona defensive back Genesis Smith (47) runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Oklahoma defensive back Robert Spears-Jennings (48) runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Arizona defensive back Treydan Stukes (49) participates in the Broad Jump at the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, in Indianapolis. (Gregory Payan/AP Content Services for NFL)
Ohio State defensive back Lorenzo Styles Jr. (50) runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Texas defensive back Michael Taaffe (51) prepares to run the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Clemson defensive back Avieon Terrell (31) runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Oregon defensive back Dillon Thieneman (52) runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Miami defensive back Jakobe Thomas (53) goes through drills and testing at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Penn State defensive back Zakee Wheatley (54) participates in the Broad Jump at the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, in Indianapolis. (Gregory Payan/AP Content Services for NFL)
Stanford defensive back Collin Wright (32) runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Lomu (6-6, 308) was a two-year starter at Utah with good movement skills and a high ceiling. He said he wouldn't mind joining a team like Detroit with established, veteran tackles.
"I came into Utah as a freshman with a lot of vet guys in the room and got to learn from them and then got to play with a lot of them," Lomu said Saturday. "I love it. I love the learning that it brings as a young player. As a young player, I want to get in there and learn as much as I can and be able to adapt to that culture of the offensive line room and really just learn from those guys and have an offensive line room that has structure."
If the Lions go a different direction at No. 17 and look to add a tackle in Day 2 with their second-round pick, Max Iheanachor (Arizona State), Gennings Dunker (Iowa) and Texas A&M's Trey Zuhn III, who has some flexibility to also move inside, could be potential names to watch.
Detroit does not currently have a third-round pick after trading it last season to move up to select wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa.
