Dan Skipper Announces Retirement: What It Means for the Lions' Offensive Line Depth
Dan Skipper is hanging up the cleats. The veteran offensive tackle, a familiar face in Detroit’s trenches, has officially announced his retirement from the NFL-closing the book on a career defined by grit, resilience, and more than a few unexpected moments.
Skipper’s journey with the Lions was anything but conventional. He was never the full-time starter, but in a season where injuries tested Detroit’s offensive line depth, he became a key rotational piece. Whether stepping in for Taylor Decker during stretches of the season or lining up in jumbo packages, Skipper was asked to do more than just hold the edge-he had to help hold the line together.
And while those jumbo sets didn’t always light up the stat sheet, Skipper gave fans one of the more memorable moments in recent Lions history: his big-man touchdown against the Buffalo Bills in 2024. That play, drawn up by then-offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, was vintage Lions creativity-and Skipper was right in the middle of it.
What Skipper’s Exit Means for Detroit
From a cap perspective, Skipper’s retirement doesn’t shift the financial landscape-he was set to become a free agent after the 2025 season anyway. But from a roster standpoint, it’s a different story. The Lions are now down a reliable, experienced backup at tackle, and that’s not something you can just replace overnight.
Skipper wrapped up his sixth season with Detroit in 2025, a year where he bounced between the practice squad and the active roster. That kind of movement defined much of his NFL career: elevated, waived, re-signed, repeated. He was the kind of player who kept showing up, and that persistence made him a locker room favorite and a dependable option when depth was tested.
But injuries and age caught up with him. In 2025, he struggled to stay healthy, and there were real questions about whether he could continue to step in as a viable starter if needed. The physical toll of the position, especially for a player of Skipper’s size, ultimately made the decision for him.
A Bigger Question Looms: What Happens If Decker Retires?
Skipper’s departure alone is manageable. But if Taylor Decker also decides to call it a career, the Lions’ left tackle situation becomes a full-blown concern.
As it stands, Giovanni Manu is the only clear backup behind Decker-and even that comes with a big asterisk. Manu is still raw, and by general manager Brad Holmes’ own standards, he’s not quite ready for starting duties.
That means Detroit is staring down a critical offseason decision. Do they trust Manu to take a leap?
Do they go shopping in free agency? Or do they invest early in the draft?
Fortunately, this year’s draft class has some intriguing prospects at tackle. Names like Francis Mauigoa, Spencer Fano, and Kadyn Proctor are already generating buzz, and any one of them could be in play if the Lions decide to use a premium pick to shore up the position.
The Bottom Line
Dan Skipper’s retirement marks the end of a unique and admirable NFL journey. He wasn’t a star, but he was the kind of player every team needs-versatile, dependable, and ready to step in when called upon. The Lions will miss that kind of presence in the locker room and in the depth chart.
Now, the focus shifts to what comes next. The Lions have built a contender by investing in the trenches, and if they want to stay there, they’ll need to get this next move right. Whether it’s trusting the young guys, making a splash in free agency, or landing the next cornerstone in the draft, the left tackle spot just became one of the most important positions to watch in Detroit this offseason.