The Detroit Lions are planning to revamp their offensive line as they aim to return to the form that secured them back-to-back NFC North Division championships and consecutive playoff appearances before their recent downturn. Former Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett identified the offensive line as the primary focus for Lions General Manager Brad Holmes during this offseason rebuilding phase.
Garrett emphasized the importance of the offensive line in driving the team’s previous success, noting the line’s critical role in enabling a strong running game and effective play-action passing.
“I just think they have to,”
Garrett said last week.
“I mean, to me, when they were really rolling the last couple years, that was the strength of their team. They were able to run the football, control the line of scrimmage, then all of a sudden the play-action passes come alive. All those special plays that they ran, it’s because they’re winning the line of scrimmage. And I think they have to get back to that, and I think they understand that.”
Garrett, who led the Cowboys from 2010 to 2019, currently serves as a studio analyst and color commentator.
Veteran Offensive Tackle Taylor Decker Signals Potential Retirement
Following the Lions’ season finale in January against the Chicago Bears, longtime offensive tackle Taylor Decker suggested he might be nearing the end of his NFL career. While he left open the possibility of continuing, Decker expressed uncertainty about returning to the field, citing concerns beyond his personal ability to play.
“I told my wife this about a week and a half ago,”
Decker shared,
“You know how in those fantasy like medieval shows there’s like that old warrior and he just wants to die in battle? I feel like that’s how I feel, but I can’t. I can’t do that because it’s not just me. It doesn’t just affect me. Hypothetically speaking about it. And that makes it harder. That makes it so much harder because I know I can still play, but what is that going to make the future of my family look like? And my future?”
Decker’s retirement would mark yet another significant setback for the Lions’ offensive line after center Frank Ragnow retired last year. Ragnow attempted a comeback but was forced to end it prematurely due to a failed physical exam revealing a severe hamstring injury.
GM Brad Holmes Addresses Concerns Over Offensive Line Moves
Some fans have questioned whether the Detroit Lions’ front office has adequately prioritized the offensive line. In response to these doubts during his end-of-season press conference, GM Brad Holmes affirmed that the unit has not been overlooked despite some challenges acquiring new talent.
Holmes explained,
“The offensive line as a whole, it hasn’t been ignored. We’ve drafted in 2021 and then (in) 2022 we didn’t, but 2023 we went late. You’d be surprised about the moves that we tried to do that we could not get done that involved offensive linemen, whether that be draft or free agency. But it hasn’t been ignored. We tried to do the best we can. I was excited about the youth injection that we did go with. I think it was necessary.”
Implications of the Offensive Line Rebuild for the Lions’ Future
The looming overhaul of the Detroit Lions offensive line is a critical step toward restoring the team’s ability to dominate at the line of scrimmage, which was central to their prior run of success. The potential departures of key veterans like Taylor Decker and Frank Ragnow add urgency to the need for effective replacements and fresh talent.
With GM Brad Holmes committed to addressing the offensive line through drafts and free agency, the team’s performance in the upcoming seasons will hinge on its ability to rebuild this crucial unit. If the Lions can regain control up front, they increase their chances to return to postseason contention and recapture the momentum that once made them a division powerhouse.
