DETROIT – The Detroit Lions have extended their longtime left tackle, Taylor Decker, who definitely reported as eligible against the Cowboys.
Decker is reportedly receiving a three-year extension worth $60 million. He is entering the final year of the four-year, $60 million extension he received in 2020.
Decker is a very reliable left tackle on the field, and the Lions greatly value his leadership off the field. He’s been in Detroit since 2016, when he was selected with the 16th overall pick in the first round.
With eight full seasons under his belt, Decker is the longest-tenured Lion and the only holdover from the Jim Caldwell era (Graham Glasgow was also on that team, but he went to Denver and has since returned).
As someone who witnessed plenty of “Same Old Lions” moments early in his career, Decker has become a kind of symbol for the team’s recent turnaround. Not only did the Lions win the NFC North and come a play away from the Super Bowl last season -- they’re also among the favorites to win the Super Bowl this time around.
Decker was famously at the center of last year’s controversial loss to the Dallas Cowboys. He caught what appeared to be the game-winning two-point conversion, but the play was called off after the officials determined that he hadn’t properly reported as an eligible receiver.
That’s why you’ll see hundreds of football fans saying, “Reported” every time Decker is mentioned on social media. And we certainly weren’t going to pass up another opportunity to remind everyone that the Lions were robbed.
Detroit has had a busy offseason. Amon-Ra St. Brown received an extension that briefly made him the highest-paid receiver in the league, and that was immediately followed by an extension that made Penei Sewell the highest-paid offensive lineman.
The Lions also made Jared Goff the highest-paid player in franchise history and signed a host of defensive free agents to try to shore up the secondary and pass rush.
First-round draft pick Terrion Arnold said the way the Lions have rewarded their top players with massive extensions motivates the whole team and makes Detroit an attractive place to play.