According to NFL insider Tom Pelissero, the Detroit Lions have traded running back David Montgomery to the Houston Texans for offensive lineman Juice Scruggs, a fourth-round pick and a seventh-round pick in return. Montgomery spent the last three seasons with Detroit, racking up over 2,500 rushing yards and an impressive 33 touchdowns.
His production in the last two seasons was mitigated by the elite speed of Jahmyr Gibbs who split time with Montgomery, but ultimately ended up getting more touches. Montgomery’s final two years on his contract will be transferred to Houston, who is getting a premier running back at a very reasonable $18 million over the next two seasons.
Detroit sheds some salary by moving on from Montgomery, leaving more room for Gibbs on the field and room to spend money on other positions in their lineup.
Scruggs started 13 games for Houston in 2024, but started just one in 2025.
Lions Send Montgomery to Houston
It isn’t a shocking decision that the Lions decided to move on from Montgomery, considering they’ve found an explosive back in Gibbs, which effectively negates the need for him. But, Montgomery is still a premier NFL running back, and the Lions are getting a decent haul back for him, along with shedding his salary.
Rumors had emerged in the last few days that Montgomery wanted out of Detroit; ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler was the first to report it. Montgomery himself quickly nixed this rumor, but it seems the Lions were ready to ship him out anyway.
Montgomery spent the first four seasons of his career with fellow NFC North team, the Chicago Bears. He eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards just once.
Even though he’s only carried the ball for over 1,000 yards twice in his career, Montgomery has been remarkably consistent over the course of his career. He’s never had fewer than 700 yards in a season, and he’s never missed more than three games in one season. He also has 59 career touchdowns, and is still one of the best red zone running backs in the league.
Breaking Down the Trade for Lions and Texans
Detroit won’t have any concerns at running back with Gibbs to fill the void by taking more carries next season.
Detroit is also acquiring the fourth-round draft selection in the deal for the 2026 draft, while the seventh-round pick is for the 2027 draft. The Lions also upgrade their offensive line depth with the addition of Scruggs, who will compete for a starting spot for the 2026 season.
For Houston, this is a slam dunk deal. It gets Montgomery still in his prime at a very reasonable price, while giving up picks with modest value and a lineman who wasn’t playing much anyway. The Texans needed offensive upgrades this season, and this move immediately makes them a Super Bowl contender when coupled with their elite defense.
And for Montgomery himself, this is a great opportunity to shine in a true RB1 role, something he hasn’t had since his days in Chicago. He’ll compete with youngster Woody Marks for touches, but it would be a shock if he doesn’t command the lion’s share of carries.
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