Taylor Decker #68 of the Detroit Lions watches the action on the sidelines during the fourth quarter of the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Ford Field on December 15, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. Tampa Bay defeated Detroit 38-17. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
Matt Stafford’s personal protector isn’t going anywhere for the next five years at least after the Detroit Lions signed left tackle Taylor Decker to a contract extension.
Taylor Decker has signed a four-year extension that gives him $60 million in new money and $37.5 million in guarantees.
The news of the deal was first reported by Tom Pelissero while the news of the new money was reported by Ian Rapoport.
In total, the new contract keeps Decker in Detroit for six more years and an $85 million price tag.
This is a great signing for the Lions to keep Decker under contract, happy, and in Detroit to help ensure that starting quarterback Matthew Stafford can stay healthy and upright. This is even more imperative as Stafford ages and is coming off an injury-shortened 2019 season.
Decker, the No. 16 pick in the 2016 NFL Draft out of Ohio State, has started 55 games in his four-year career and has been a consistent force on the left side of the offensive line.
Now, the Lions have locked him up for the prime of his career as they seek a return to the playoffs.
The Lions are one of the sleepers in the NFC entering the 2020 season with fans hoping they can break through and snatch one of the seven postseason slots in the expanded playoffs this winter.