The Houston Texans are set to acquire running back David Montgomery in a trade with the Detroit Lions. In exchange, the Lions will receive offensive lineman Juice Scruggs, a 2026 fourth-round draft pick, and a 2027 seventh-round pick.
Montgomery’s Move Comes After Reduced Role
Montgomery’s move comes after he experienced a reduced role in 2025 while playing alongside Jahmyr Gibbs. Despite playing all 17 games last season, Montgomery had his fewest rushes (158) and touches (182) in a season in his career. He averaged 9.3 rushes per game and 10.7 touches per game last season, a decrease from his first two seasons with the Lions where he averaged 14.4 rushes per game and 16.3 touches per game.
His playing time also decreased, with Montgomery playing 41% of the offensive snaps, which then dropped to 33% in Weeks 11-18. He didn’t have more than 10 carries in a game in any of the Lions’ final eight games.
Prior to the trade, Lions General Manager Brad Holmes said the team would consider trading Montgomery this offseason, and a report indicated that Montgomery would like to move on to another team.
Texans Bolster Their Running Game
Houston entered the offseason looking to bolster their running game after a lackluster 2025 year. The Texans ranked 22nd in rushing yards per game (108) last season. Woody Marks led the team with 703 yards on the ground.
Montgomery will enter the 2026 season as the No. 1 back for Houston. This trade also gives more clarity on how the Texans plan to approach Joe Mixon’s situation. League sources expect Houston will most likely release Mixon, who missed the entire 2025 season with a foot injury.
Lions Prioritise Offensive Line Improvement
After failing to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2022, the Lions are prioritizing improving their offensive line, particularly on the interior. Detroit ranked 20th in run block win rate (70.7%) and 30th in pass block win rate (55.2%).
Scruggs is the second offensive lineman traded by the Texans. Houston also agreed to send Tytus Howard to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for a fifth-round draft pick.
Montgomery’s Contract and Previous Seasons
Montgomery will turn 29 in June and is set to make $5.49 million this season. This is the first of a two-year, $18.25 million extension that he signed with Detroit in October 2024.
- Montgomery had 2,506 rushing yards and 33 touchdowns in three seasons with the Lions.
- He signed with the Lions in 2023 after four seasons with the Chicago Bears, who selected him in the third round of the 2019 draft.
- In 2025, Montgomery ran 158 times for 716 yards and eight touchdowns.
Holmes said this week that the Lions would love to have him back, although he acknowledged that “a player has to want to be in a certain place as well.”