The Detroit Lions are expected to make significant roster adjustments this offseason as they attempt to return to championship form after missing the playoffs last year. A former NFL head coach believes the most important area of focus will be Detroit’s offensive line.

Former Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett says the Lions must rebuild their dominance up front if they want to contend again in 2026.

“I just think they have to,” Garrett said recently. “When they were really rolling the last couple years, the offensive line was the strength of the team. They ran the football, controlled the line of scrimmage, and then the play-action game came alive. All of those explosive plays happened because they were winning up front. They have to get back to that.”

Garrett coached the Cowboys from 2010 to 2019 and now works as a studio analyst and color commentator.

Taylor Decker’s Future Could Impact Lions’ Plans

Detroit could face major changes at offensive tackle depending on the future of veteran Taylor Decker. After the Lions’ final regular-season game against the Chicago Bears, Decker suggested he may have played his final snap in the NFL.

“I know I can still play,” Decker said, “but I have to think about what that means for my family and my future.”

If Decker retires, it would be another major loss for Detroit’s offensive line following the retirement of former Pro Bowl center Frank Ragnow, whose attempted comeback ended after failing a physical due to a severe hamstring injury.

Brad Holmes Defends Lions’ Offensive Line Strategy

Lions general manager Brad Holmes pushed back against criticism that the team has neglected the offensive line.

“The offensive line hasn’t been ignored,” Holmes said during his end-of-season press conference. “We’ve drafted linemen, and we’ve tried to make moves in both the draft and free agency that didn’t work out. We’ve also added youth, which I think was necessary.”

Despite those efforts, outside voices like Garrett believe Detroit must prioritize the trenches again to return to its winning formula.