NFL Draft: Detroit Lions draft Taylor Decker at No. 16

Taylor Decker walked the red carpet before the NFL Draft in Chicago with his parents, Ron and Sheila, who have been with him every step of the way — from Vandalia Butler High School to Ohio State and now to the NFL.

The Detroit Lions drafted the Ohio State Buckeyes left tackle with the No. 16 pick in the first round Thursday. He was the fourth Buckeye picked in the first round, following Joey Bosa to the San Diego Chargers at No. 3, Ezekiel Elliott to the Dallas Cowboys at No. 4 and Eli Apple to the New York Giants at No. 10.

NFL DRAFT PROFILE: Taylor Decker

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Decker is the first Ohio State offensive lineman drafted since Corey Linsley went to the Green Bay Packers in the fifth round in 2014. He’s the first offensive lineman drafted in the first round since the New York Jets took center Nick Mangold in 2006.

Decker, 21, played in 12 games as a freshman in 2012 and earned a starting job in 2013. He started every game of his sophomore, junior and senior seasons. The Buckeyes finished 50-4 in his career.

As a senior, Decker was named a consensus All-American and won the Big Ten’s Rimington-Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year award.

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