The Chicago Bears have had a fairly successful offseason to this point, adding key defensive members while keeping most of the offense intact. However, a division rival's surprising offseason move has allowed Chicago to upgrade in the trenches. Detroit released Decker in early March after the two sides failed to reach a contract agreement, and the Bears rumors have been swirling ever since, given Chicago's injury issues at left tackle and Decker's relationship with Ben Johnson.
With starting left tackle Ozzy Trapilo injured, the Bears need to find a sturdy replacement at left tackle. As it stands, the current options to protect Caleb Williams's blind side are Braxton Jones, Theo Benedet, and Jedrick Wills Jr., who the Bears recently signed in free agency. It's safe to say that an upgrade is needed, and Taylor Decker would be a comfortable fit in Ben Johnson's offense.
Decker's relationship with Ben Johnson may solve Bears' LT problem
Ben Johnson and Taylor Decker were together with the Lions during the team's rise from the basement of the NFC to a perennial playoff contender. In addition to the team success the two enjoyed together in the Motor City, Decker made his first Pro Bowl in Ben Johnson's final season in Detroit. This relationship alone should give the Bears an edge over other teams trying to acquire Decker, and recent events indicate that Decker could be the Bears' starting left tackle in the near future.
Justin Rogers of Detroit Football Network recently spoke to the former Lions left tackle, and Decker said that Ben Johnson reached out to him as a friend, which was a "stark contrast" from the Lions staff, who he hasn't heard from once since his release. While Ben Johnson's high character could mean he is truly just trying to do right by one of his former pupils, you can never rule out the possibility of the two talking about a reunion in Chicago.
Johnson has once again proven how invaluable he is to the entire Chicago Bears organization. Before it's even known whether or not the Bears will sign Decker, fans are already praising the Chicago head coach for even reaching out, something that would have seemed rather unlikely with previous Bears head coaches.
While nothing is guaranteed, all of the current information suggests that Johnson wants the best for Decker, at the very least. Whether that ultimately ends with him in a Bears uniform is anyone's guess, but Decker's recent comments add even more fuel to that fire.
The Lions didn't want to pay Decker what he felt he deserved, so what if he was left with such a sour taste that he made it a point to join their division rival alongside his former offensive coordinator? It's a match made in heaven for both Decker and Johnson, and Chicago should be working its hardest to make this move to bolster the offensive front.