The Chicago Bears' stout offensive line shouldn't be a concern at this point in training camp, but here we are. With Ozzy Trapilo out for the long run, it looks like the starting left tackle spot could be up for grabs in the Windy City.
Braxton Jones looked like the front-runner to start as Caleb Williams' blindside protector in Week 1. However, the mere fact that he was alternating first-team reps with Kiran Amegadjie and Jedrick Wills Jr. was concerning enough.
Now, while reports suggest he dodged a serious injury, watching him leave Thursday's practice with an injury only added more doubts. That's why the Bears should pick up the phone and get Taylor Decker on the first plane.
The Bears could use someone like Taylor Decker
Decker spent his entire career with the Detroit Lions. He claimed that even after leaving the team on bad terms, he probably would never play for the Green Bay Packers or Bears, but given the way the Lions treated him in the end, a return to the NFC North might be poetic.
The Lions released Decker after failing to reach an agreement on a new deal, and he remains unsigned. Notably, plenty of that must do with his projected market value of $21.3 million, as no one in their right mind will pay him that much at this point in the offseason.
The Bears in particular aren't exactly oozing with cash. According to Over The Cap, they're sitting on roughly $8.1 million in available cap space. That said, they can probably sort things out if Decker lowers his delusional salary aspirations.
While not a superstar by any means, Decker can provide steady, non-spectacular, Pro-Bowl-caliber stability at left tackle, at least for a year. Maybe, he'd take an incentives-based 'prove it' deal that can help him land a big payday elsewhere next season.
Also, playing for the Bears would give him a prime opportunity to stick it to his former team twice a year. They didn't want to pay him what he felt was worth, so he reunited with his former offensive coordinator in the Windy City to torment the Lions' unimpressive pass-rush two times per season.
This isn't ideal, but there's no ideal solution to this situation. Jones was a mixed bag last season and lost the starting job for a reason, and none of his potential backups is much better. This team has already found out how crucial it is to give Caleb Williams a clean pocket, and they can't spare on that front.
Whether Decker will even get out of his coach for a reduced salary remains to be seen. But given how the rest of the league is shaping up, this might actually be his last chance to play a full season in 2026.
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