Taylor Decker

The team's first-round draft selection in 2016, Decker anchored the left side of Detroit's offensive line in his rookie year and became the first Lions rookie offensive tackle to start all 16 games in a season since Jeff Backus in 2001.

MANE FACTS

• Voted by his teammates for the Eric Andolsek Offensive Lineman of the Year and Mel Farr Rookie of the Year Awards in 2016.

TRANSACTIONS

• Placed on Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform on September 2, 2017.
• Placed on Active/Physically Unable to Perform on July 25, 2017.
• Drafted by the Detroit Lions in the first round (16th overall) of the 2016 NFL Draft.

PRO
The team's first-round draft selection in 2016, Decker anchored the left side of Detroit's offensive line in his rookie year and became the first Lions rookie offensive tackle to start all 16 games in a season since Jeff Backus in 2001.

• He also became the third rookie offensive lineman, joining Backus and G Larry Warford (2013), to start all 16 games since 2000.
• Decker was one of 11 rookies in the NFL to start all 16 games this year, and one of five rookie offensive linemen to start all 16.

2018: Helped QB Matthew Stafford throw for 347 yards in Week 2 against the San Francisco 49ers (9/16).

• Paved the way for rookie RB Kerryon Johnson to rush for 101 yards in Week 3 against the New England Patriots (9/23).
• Assisted the Lions running game as they ran for 248 yards as a team at Miami (10/21), the most since 1997.
• Caught an 11-yard touchdown pass against the Rams (12/2) to become the second Lions offensive lineman, and first since 1994, to record a touchdown reception. His 11 receiving yards are the most by an offensive lineman in Lions history, and his catch marked the longest reception in the NFL by an offensive lineman since 2016.
• Helped the Lions rush for 100-plus yards for their third-straight game at Arizona (12/9) for the first time since 2015.
• Helped the Lions rush for 100-plus yards for their fourth-straight game at Buffalo (12/16) for the first time since 2015.

2017: Placed on Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform in the beginning of the season.

• Returned to action in Week 10 against Cleveland (11/12) and contributed to an offense that scored three passing touchdowns while averaging 5.5 yards per carry on the ground.
• Started at left tackle in Week 11 at Chicago (11/19), allowing QB Matthew Stafford to throw for 299 yards and two touchdowns.
• Started at left tackle in Week 14 at Tampa Bay (12/10), aiding QB Matthew Stafford complete 36-of-44 passes for 381 yards while blocking for a multi-rushing touchdown performance (2).

2016: Made his rookie debut starting at left tackle along the offensive line in Week 1 at Indianapolis (9/11).

• Helped Detroit's offense rush for over 100 yards in consecutive weeks in his second career start against Tennessee in Week 2 (9/18).
• Made his third consecutive start at left tackle helping the offense throw for 368 passing yards in Week 3 at Green Bay (9/25).
• A key edge blocker for an offense that threw for three touchdowns in the first half against the Eagles (10/9).
• Sealed the left edge on the offensive line as RB Zach Zenner ran for a career-high 58 yards against the Rams in Week 6 (10/16).
• On 37 pass plays in Week 9 at Minnesota, the Lions offensive line yielded one sack against the Vikings, which occurred on the team's overtime game-winning drive (11/6). It marked the third time in four games in which the offensive line yielded one or fewer sacks.
• Helped the offense gain 422 total yards at New Orleans and control the time of possession battle by a margin of more than 13 minutes (12/4).
• Helped the offense rush for 88 yards in the second half and complete its eighth game-winning drive of the season against the Bears in Week 14 (12/11).
• Helped create holes that saw RB Zach Zenner run for a career-best 67 yards on 12 carries and two touchdowns in Week 16 at Dallas (12/26).
• Part of an offensive line that helped QB Matthew Stafford throw for 347 yards and RB Zach Zenner to rush for a career-high 69 yards and one touchdown.
• Made a start at left tackle in the NFC Wild Card game at Seattle (1/7).

COLLEGE
A three-year starter who saw action in 54 games (42 starts) along the Buckeyes offensive line, Decker was a mainstay at tackle for an Ohio State team that went 50-4 during his four years (2012-15). He was named a semifinalist for the Lombardi Award, given to the nation's to college lineman or linebacker, and was named a team co-captain as a senior.

2015: Started all 13 games at left tackle for the third consecutive year and was a unanimous First Team All-American selection by various outlets, including the Associated Press, Walter Camp, SI.com and CBS Sports. Finished his Buckeye career playing in 41 consecutive games over his final three seasons, including 29 starts.

• Earned First Team All-Big Ten honors his senior year and was voted Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year.
• Helped pave the way for Ohio State's rushing attack in 2015 to lead the Big Ten in rushing at 245.2 yards per game and finish third in the conference in scoring (35.7 points per game) and third in total offense (434.1 yards per game).
• Blocked for a rushing offense that reached 300+ rushing yards in two games, including 360 at Virginia Tech and 369 at Michigan.

2014: Was a key piece of the Buckeyes' national championship run as he started all 15 games at left tackle, earning Second Team All-Big Ten Conference honors by both the coaches and media voters.

• Buckeyes offense totaled 3,967 yards on the ground, the second-highest total in school history. The 264 rushing yards per game also ranked eighth nationally in 2014.
• Logged 1,034 offensive plays at left tackle, including a personal best 107 vs. Cincinnati and 85 against Oregon in the national championship game.
• Helped the Ohio State offense set school records in touchdowns (90), points scored (637), passing yards (3,707) and passing touchdowns (42).

2013: Started all 14 games for the first time in his collegiate career and aided the Ohio State offense to rank fifth nationally in rushing with 308.6 yards per game. Played in 941 snaps from scrimmage, more than every other offensive player.

2012: Enrolled at Ohio State in March 2012 and played in all 12 games for the undefeated Buckeyes, primarily on special teams. Earned playing time along the offensive line in four games.

PERSONAL
A native of Vandalia, Ohio, Decker prepped at Butler High School where he was rated as the No. 23 offensive tackle in the nation and a four-star prospect by the site.

• Completed two summer internships with the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium during his time at Ohio State.
• Majored in animal sciences at Ohio State.
• Son of Ron and Sheila Decker.