For the second straight training camp, the Chicago Bears will have a battle for the starting job at left tackle. Braxton Jones is the easy frontrunner, with Ozzie Trapilo expected to miss at least a big chunk of the coming season, but Theo Benedet and Jedrick Wills will have a chance to compete.
For all intents and purposes, barring a rash of injuries that hits all three of those guys, the Bears will not be adding anyone notable to that competition. But that hasn't totally stopped at least one idea along that line from resurfacing.
Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox has newly laid out the best available NFL free agents ahead of training camp, with two logical landing spots for each.
Former Detroit Lions left tackle Taylor Decker was unsurprisingly on the list, with the Bears and Los Angeles Rams as the two landing spots Knox proposed.
"At this point in his career, Decker would make the most sense for a legitimate contender looking to add some insurance to its offensive line. The Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Rams spring to mind."
"Chicago has Ozzy Trapilo recovering from a ruptured patellar tendon..."
Taylor Decker quickly ruled out a reunion with Ben Johnson
Decker, of course, overlapped in Detroit with Bears head coach Ben Johnson for six seasons (2019-2024). Johnson even reached out to Decker after the Lions granted him the release he requested, before he had heard anything from his former coaches.
Decker revealed how Johnson reached out to Justin Rogers of Detroit Football Network. Reacting to that conversation, Rogers passed along the vibe he got from Decker when it came to certain potential new teams.
"I will tell you that he’s pretty anti-playing for the Bears or Packers. That’s the Lions background in him. I know Ben Johnson did it and that was the right situation for him, but Taylor feels kind of dirty about the idea. It just isn’t interesting to him."
The Minnesota Vikings, with Christian Darrisaw locked in at left tackle, were never a realistic possibility for Decker, and thus they weren't worthy of mention.
So, out of a sense of loyalty to his Lions' roots, after he was asked to take a pay cut and subsequently asked to be released, Decker immediately ruled out signing with another NFC North team.
In hindsight, with the Bears as a great-looking fit at that point and the fact he's still available days ahead of training camps getting going, he should have never ruled out any potential landing spot. If the Bears had no interest, so be it, but he was not (and never has been) in a position to eliminate suitors.
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The aforementioned low-percentage injury scenario might push the Bears to reach out to Decker about being their left tackle this season. But he made that low-percentage chance a zero percent chance all on his own, almost four months ago now, and the Bears probably got the hint.
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