Taylor Decker, Lions Agree to 6-Year, $85M Contract Extension

The Detroit Lions are extending the contract of their first-round pick from 2016, giving offensive tackle Taylor Decker a six-year, $85 million deal just ahead of Week 1.

Decker's representatives at AMDG Sports announced the deal, which included $37.5 million guaranteed. 

The 27-year-old out of Ohio State has been relatively durable throughout his time in Detroit, starting 16 games in 2016 and 2018, though an offseason shoulder surgery limited him to just eight games in 2017. 

Still, the Lions have allowed at least 40 sacks in each of the last three seasons and could use a bit more protection for quarterback Matthew Stafford. 

When he's been healthy, Taylor is capable of doing so.

According to Pro Football Reference, Taylor has been on the field for more than 94 percent of the team's offensive snaps in three out of his four years in the NFL. 

The addition of Halapoulivaati Vaitai to the offensive line should make Taylor's job a bit easier as well. Detroit gave the former Philadelphia Eagles star a five-year, $50 million deal in free agency. The Lions also drafted guards Jonah Jackson and Logan Stenberg in April as the team continues to add protection up front.