Position by Position: OT
Cap numbers found on overthecap.com, stats and additional information found on espn.com, pro-football-reference.com, and pff.com.
The Super Bowl has come and gone, the Seahawks raise their trophy as the Patriots set their sights on 2026. For the Lions one of the biggest keys to their 2026 success or failure may be the offensive line. While the interior offensive line is arguably more critical to success, let’s not forget that Goff is better in a clean pocket with his blind side covered. So let’s dig in and talk about who may or may not be covering Goff’s blind side in 2026.
Penei Sewell
25 years old - Under contract through 2029 (2030 void year) - 28 million dollar cap hit in 2026
Penei Sewell is arguably the best offensive tackle in football. While he did not walk away with the inaugural Protector of the Year award (that was awarded to Joe Thuney of the Bears), there is no arguing that he had an amazing year in 2025. The only question is if he will play on the left side of the line in 2026, or the right side. I tend to agree with Jeff Risdon of Detroit Lions Podcast, while he can play well on the left side, I think we should keep him at RT. I expect there to be a good amount of turmoil with the line this offseason, let’s take Penei out of that mix and let him continue to dominate.
Penei had slightly down production in 2025 due to injury but still did great. He logged 1 false start, 1 holding call, a pass block pff grade of 80.3 (11th) and a run block pff grade of 96.8 (1st).
Taylor Decker
33 years old - Under contract through 2027 (2028 void year) - 21 million dollar cap hit in 2026
Decker has been a warrior in Detroit. Is his play falling off? Yes. Is the line worse without him? Absolutely. The question is not if he will be a Lion in 2026, he will, that is if he plays. If you haven’t watched the YouTube video of him after week 18 it’s worth listening to: https://youtu.be/FAOMUAkmir0?si=Iu38QKmWq03tlah4. It was watching this video that convinced me he will retire leaving a huge open position at LT. I selfishly hope he will stick around for another year, but he needs to do what’s right for him.
Taylor Decker battled chronic injury in 2025:
He logged 3 false starts, 1 holding call, a pass block pff grade of 69.5 (45th) and a run block pff grade of 62.1 (67th).
Dan Skipper
Dan Skipper has announced his retirement from the NFL and transition to coaching. I personally hope to see him with the Lions in 2026. Good luck Skip!
Dan Skipper did Dan Skipper things in 2025:
He logged 1 holding call, a pass block pff grade of 69.3 and a run block pff grade of 47.5.
Giovanni Manu
29 years old - Under contract through 2027 - 1.25 million dollar cap hit in 2026.
Giovanni Manu filled in on spot duty, and continued to look raw. He has all the athleticism but needs to keep learning. That all said I’m cautiously optimistic he can be a depth piece moving forward. He has shown improvement. As long as he keeps improving he should provide value and stick around. Depth tackles don’t just fall out of the sky, he’s worth the minimal investment.
Giovanni Manu played 69 offensive snaps on spot duty in 2025:
Gio recorded no penalties, a pass block pff grade of 17.5 and a run block pff grade of 55.8.
Mason Miller and Devin Cochran
Miller - 25 years old - Under contract through 2026 - 885k cap hit
Cochran - 28 years old - Under contract through 2026 - 1 million dollar cap hit.
Cochran holds a bit of intrigue as he has 2 accrued seasons in the NFL and a great athletic profile. Could he be the Dan Skipper replacement? Miller is much of a question mark.
Moving Forward
In my perspective, the Lions need to spend their first round pick replacing Decker with a “tackle first” versatile offensive lineman. This sets the line up for success in the future. Tackles are hard to come by in the NFL and drafting one is the most cost effective way to proceed on a year where cap space may be limited.