The Detroit Lions and Houston Texans made a trade for a strong running back on Monday.
The Detroit Lions failed to make the playoffs for the first time since 2022, and plan to retool their offense in order to get back there in their 2026 campaign. One of those moves is to retool and improve their offensive line play, something that will extend their window much longer than a running back. That seems to be the thought in the team’s decision to trade running back David Montgomery to the Houston Texans in exchange for draft capital and offensive lineman Juice Scruggs. The Lions will receive a 2026 fourth rounder and 2027 seventh rounder.
In exchange, the Texans get one half of the “Sonic and Knuckles” duo in Detroit in Montgomery, who is set to turn 29 years old ahead of the 2026 season. Montgomery is one of five players since being drafted in 2019 top record at least 6,000 rushing yards and 50 rushing touchdowns. He now immediately becomes the No. 1 option in Houston who are still dealing with the odd Joe Mixon situation, who missed the entire 2025 year with a mysterious foot injury.
Here is the full story from Lions Roundtable writer Adam Stark in what the move signifies for Detroit’s future.
Montgomery had a bit of a down year last season, as did some of the rest of the offense with a lackluster interior offensive line. It also came with a reduced role alongside Jahmyr Gibbs, something that Montgomery was unhappy about but was in contact with the team’s general manager this offseason on what direction they’d take. He had his fewest touches and rushes in a season since he began his career despite playing in all 17 games and is ready to headline an offense as the top back, while Detroit will certainly need a depth piece alongside Gibbs.
Here is the full story from Texans Roundtable writer Brogan Noey on what the team is getting in Montgomery.
