Taylor Decker had an impressive rookie season after being selected 16th overall in the 2016 NFL Draft, leading many to see him as the future leader of the Lions’ offensive line and long-term solution at the all-important left tackle position. However, the 23 year old picked up a shoulder injury which required surgery with an indefinite recovery period.
With Decker out and his return date as yet unknown, Lions management will be searching for a replacement who is capable of starting games on the left side in the wholly possible scenario that Decker misses at least part of the season. They already made one addition on Thursday, bringing in veteran tackle Tony Hills.
Still, there is plenty of time remaining before the first preseason game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on August 13, it’s unlikely to be a decision that Caldwell or Quinn are rushed into. So here are some options the Lions can consider.
1. IN-HOUSE OPTIONS
CORNELIUS LUCAS
Lucas, who turns 26 in July, is easily the most experienced, having played 35 games (6 as starter) in his NFL career. And being a backup is nothing new for the former Kansas State lineman, he saw significant time in 2014 when now-former Lion Riley Reiff was sidelined due to injury.
One might tentatively assume he is the rightful heir to the starting role, but the importance of the position means that any and all question marks will need to be ironed out long before Detroit takes the field for their regular season opener at home against Arizona on September 10.
JOE DAHL
Joe Dahl had restricted playing time as a rookie a year ago, making six appearances (0 as starter) and took only 20 snaps, none of which were at either tackle position. Dahl did play left tackle during his Washington State days and did earn first-team All-conference honors as a senior.
However, the Cougars ran a offense that asked much, much less of him than the Lions would and he is arguably still in development as an NFL pro, let alone the starting blindside protector.
COREY ROBINSON
Corey Robinson missed the end of last season on IR with a foot injury and has not played any part in the OTAs that have been held so far. Robinson has played in 15 career games, three as starter.
So far at OTAs, Dahl and Lucas have split the first-team reps between them. If the Lions decide to look in-house for a replacement, it would appear it currently be a two-horse race between those two.
2. EXTERNAL OPTIONS
Free agency was a relatively barren spell for tackle talent this year but what was available went at a premium, with guys like Matt Kalil and ex-Lion Riley Reiff signing hefty contracts at their new clubs. Some might look back and suggest the Lions should have held on to Reiff due his versatility. However at the time they had no reason to be concerned about Decker’s availability.
Reiff was looking to command both LT snaps and paycheck and the Lions thought they had upgraded Reiff’s main position of Right Tackle with the acquisition of fifth-year veteran Rick Wagner from Baltimore. Even with the signing of Tony Hills on Thursday, there are still some modest options out there on the market.
King Dunlap and Ryan Clady are the two most recognizable names available that are still looking for a job. However, both are the wrong side of 30 and have had various injury problems over the last two seasons. Should either of these be looked at, Clady would probably be the cheaper option.
It’s also understood the Lions have been in contact with former Bills 2015 second-round pick Cyrus Kouandjio.
https://twitter.com/ckouandjio/status/872263980647108609
Kouandjio is coming fresh off a frankly disastrous off-season, dealing with hip surgery back in January and then being involved in a worrying episode with police in April 2017, presumably what he was referencing in the second part of the above tweet.
Despite worrying signs off the field, Kouandjio certainly has the tools for success with his 6-7, 322-pound frame. Lions fans may also be intrigued when they see a 76.7 rating by Pro Football Focus, which ranked above-average among 78 total offensive tackles, a rating that was highest on the team. Kouandjio also allowed just one sack in 200+ pass block attempts.
While it’s likely that whichever option the Lions turn to at left tackle will be a step down from Decker, it is not at all expected to be a long-term replacement and both fans and team management should take some comfort in knowing that there are options out there for consideration.
