Texans bolster backfield with proven veteran David Montgomery, injecting immediate spark and reliability into their offense.
The Houston Texans were very active on Monday, completing two trades. The Texans moved on from tackle Tytus Howard as he was sent to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for a fifth-round draft pick. The organization then acquired David Montgomery from the Detroit Lions in exchange for Juice Scruggs, a fourth-round pick, and a seventh-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.
Houston was going to acquire a reliable running back in some way during the 2026 offseason. Woody Marks had a solid rookie year in 2025, but more was needed out of the backfield. Nick Chubb has lost a step and is scheduled to hit free agency, while Joe Mixon's future is up in the air as he could be a potential cap casualty, and his mysterious injury is still something to worry about. Mixon's cap hit in 2026 is $10 million, but the organization can save $8 million by deciding to release him and move on from the running back, which seems like the best option after bringing in Montgomery.
Montgomery is a reliable running back who did not miss a single game in 2025. He was with Detroit for the last three seasons, where he was a part of one of the most electrifying running back duos in the league alongside Jahmyr Gibbs. However, Montgomery kind of sank into the shadows behind Gibbs a little bit during the 2025 season, and the Lions had their worst season in a while. The back and the franchise wanted some change, and that is exactly what happened.
The veteran running back is still only 28 years old as he enters his eighth season in the league. He should be the primary back for Houston, as he has proven in the past that he can be a bell cow. He has seen limited touches over the last three seasons as he shared a backfield with Gibbs, but he can touch the ball as much as needed for Houston. Some upgrades on the offensive line should have the fan base feeling extremely confident that the offense is taking some steps in the right direction.
Montgomery has had success everywhere he has gone, and that should not change in Houston. He will be a good back for the Texans, and hopefully, his play will help C.J. Stroud return to his old self. This trade is agreed to, but cannot be made official until the next league year begins in a couple of weeks.