Roster Analysis Of Detroit Lions Signing Larry Borom

Not long after filling one of their main needs on the offensive line by signing center Cade Mays, the Detroit Lions wasted little time inking another offensive lineman, signing offensive tackle Larry Borom. The Michigan native brings veteran experience to Detroit’s offensive line, as the group has lost several veterans over the past two offseasons.

The initial thought process points to Borom replacing Dan Skipper (retired) at OT3 rather than replacing recently released Taylor Decker in the starting lineup. However, Borom is currently penciled into the starting lineup, and that likely won’t change until the NFL Draft.

Origin story

After playing his high school ball locally at Brother Rice in Birmingham, Michigan, Borom landed at Missouri and started the final two years of his college career, primarily lining up at right tackle. From there, he was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft (pick No. 151), and while he started the season on injured reserve due to an ankle injury, once healthy, he returned and earned a starting role from Weeks 8 to 18. Over the next three seasons, Borom was in and out of the starting lineup—starting another 19 games—but competition and injuries limited his playing time, and the Bears allowed him to depart in free agency.

Once on the open market in 2025, Borom signed a one-year deal with the Miami Dolphins and was expected to take on a swing tackle role. However, when starting right tackle Austin Jackson was injured in Week 1, Borom seized the opportunity to get back into the starting lineup and held down the right side from Weeks 2 through 11, as well as starting in their season finale.

What the experts are saying

Borom was identified by our own Al Karsten as a “bargain bin” option for the Lions at tackle, and explored what the veteran lineman brings to the table:

From Week 6 through the end of the regular season, Borom quietly graded as PFF’s 35th-highest graded offensive tackle (70.3). That mark was 10 spots ahead of Jamaree Salyer, 13 spots ahead of Taylor Decker, and six spots behind Yosh Nijman during that stretch.

Borom does have some length limitations at right tackle, but he’s a dense, sturdy athlete with a powerful upper body who brings plenty of force as a drive blocker. He still needs to rein in some control issues, but his punch timing and placement in pass protection have improved enough to take advantage of his natural power.

Expected role in 2026

Borom is a five-year veteran with 38 games of starting experience. While he’s made the majority of his starts at right tackle, he does have experience playing left tackle (and guard) throughout his career, making him a plus OT3, with spot-starting capabilities.

Following the release of Decker, Borom is penciled into the Lions’ starting lineup, and if the season were to start today, he would likely man the right tackle position with All-Pro Penei Sewell shifting to the left side. However, the Lions are not expected to stand pat at their tackle position and will surely bring in competition for a starting role.

Free agency impact

With four offensive tackles now under contract, the Lions may not be done adding through free agency, but with the team needing to be cautious with their salary cap, any additions will likely come late in the free agency period when prices drop.

NFL Draft impact

Reading the tea leaves, the NFL Draft is where the Lions will most likely find their challenger for a starting offensive tackle role. While offensive tackles are expected to be in high demand in this draft cycle—with as many as seven projected to be selected in the first round—the Lions sitting at pick No. 17 should put them in a solid spot to find a highly talented prospect.

Francis Mauigoa (right tackle, Miami) and Spencer Fano (right tackle, Utah) have typically sat at the top of most NFL Draft analysts’ rankings this offseason, but some experts are projecting each of them to guard, including the highly respected Brandon Thorne (Mauigoa) and Daniel Jeremiah (Fano). With both expected to be off the board before pick No. 17, the Lions will likely be looking at another pair of pure tackles.

Monroe Freeling (left tackle, Georgia) and Blake Miller (right tackle, Clemson) are both elite athletes who have the potential to be plug-and-play options at tackle. Freeling is young with an incredibly high developmental ceiling, while Miller is uber-experienced with the grizzled toughness the Lions look for in a lineman.

Kaleb Proctor (left tackle, Alabama), Caleb Lomu (left tackle, Utah), and Max Iheanachor (right tackle, Arizona State) round out the prospects with first-round potential, but each has a few more flaws to their game than the above four, and that may need correcting at the next level.

You can keep track of the Lions’ roster moves and the latest NFL free agency news with our 2026 tracker, our contract tracker, and our rumor tracker.