David Montgomery trade: Texans acquiring veteran RB from Lions
The Houston Texans bolstered their backfield by putting a commerce with the Detroit Lions for working again David Montgomeryin response to CBS Sports NFL insider Jonathan Jones. As for the compensation, Houston will ship his fourth-round decide and a seventh-round decide in trade for the veteran. Jones notes that an offensive lineman can also be heading to Detroit as a part of the deal, and NFL Media stories it is former second-round decide Juice Scruggs.
Montgomery had been the topic of commerce hypothesis as his position started to decrease with the Lions. There was even a report, which Montgomery later denied, that he wished out of Detroit. General supervisor Brad Holmes stated final week that the workforce and Montgomery’s illustration have had a “healthy dialogue,” however did be aware that “a player has to want to be in a certain place as well,” lending credence to the again’s need to play elsewhere.
“We love David,” Homes stated final week, through Pro Football Talk. “He’s a great player. We’d love to have him. Kind of want to put last year in the rear view and just move forward. But, obviously, a player has to want to be in a certain place as well. So those conversations are still fluid, and we’re just trying to see how it goes.”
No matter if Montgomery pressured his approach out of the Motor City or not, he is now heading to Houston. He possible sees a big position within the Texans’ offense, significantly after the workforce averaged 108.9 yards per sport final season, which ranked within the backside half of the league.
Rushing yards per sport | 108.9 | twenty second |
Yards per rush | 3.9 | twenty ninth |
Yards per rush after contact | 2.5 | thirty second |
speeding touchdowns | 9 | T-Twenty seventh |
Montgomery joins a backfield that features rising second-year again and former fourth-round decide, Woody Marks, who flashed some promise throughout his rookie season, the place he totaled 911 yards from scrimmage. The veteran’s arrival calls into query the standing of Joe Mixon, who missed all season because of harm. He is getting into the ultimate 12 months of his deal, and Houston may clear $8 million in wage cap house if the workforce have been to launch him.
A curious layer to this deal additionally contains Montgomery’s contract. The again is signed via the 2027 season, however doesn’t have any assured cash remaining on his deal. With this commerce executed, it’s going to be attention-grabbing to see if Montgomery seeks a sweetened contract as properly.
Meanwhile, Montgomery’s departure from Detroit possible means much more work for Jahmyr Gibbs. The former first-round decide took on a better position within the Lions backfield final season, recording a career-high 320 touches, whereas Montgomery’s touches dropped to 182 in 2025 after receiving 221 touches in 2024.
Montgomery entered the league as a 2019 third-round draft alternative of the Chicago Bears out of Iowa State. The 28-year-old spent 4 seasons in Chicago earlier than signing with the Lions through the 2023 offseason. For his profession, Montgomery has rushed for six,115 yards and 59 touchdowns over the course of 105 regular-season video games.
