Here are the David Montgomery trade details in a deal agreed to Monday, March 2, between the Lions and Texans.
ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky shares insights on new Lions OC Drew Petzing
ESPN analyst and ex-Lions QB Dan Orlovsky joined Dave Birkett to talk new Lions OC Drew Petzing, his interest in coaching and Super Bowl 60.
Sonic and Knuckles are no more.
The Detroit Lions traded running back David Montgomery to the Houston Texans on Monday, March 2, a person with first-hand knowledge of the deal told the Free Press, less than a week after Lions general manager Brad Holmes said he would “love” to keep Montgomery in Detroit.
The Lions are reportedly getting a fourth-round pick, seventh-round pick and guard Juice Scruggs from Houston.
“Kind of want to put last year in the rearview and just move forward,” Holmes said at the NFL combine last week in Indianapolis in regards to keeping Montgomery. “But obviously, a player has to want to be at a certain place as well. So those conversations are still fluid and we’ll just kind of see how it goes.”
Scruggs, 26, was a late second-round pick at No. 62 overall in 2023 by the Texans out of Penn State. He started 13 games in 2024 and played in 17 games in 2025, making one start.
Montgomery was unhappy with his reduced role last season, when he had career-lows in rushing yards, attempts and total offensive touches while playing as the Lions’ clear No. 2 running back behind Jahmyr Gibbs.
In 2023-24, Gibbs and Montgomery – nicknamed Sonic and Knuckles – formed one of the best 1-2 running back tandems in the NFL.
Houston had rookie Woody Marks and Nick Chubb at running back in 2025, after Joe Mixon missed the season due to injury.
David Montgomery trade affect on Lions salary cap
Montgomery, who turns 29 in June, is scheduled to make $6 million this fall in the first year of a two-year extension. The Lions save about $3.5 million in cap room with the trade, though they’ll have to use at least some of that savings to find a replacement.
Lions RB depth chart after David Montgomery trade
The Lions do not have enough cap room or available playing time to be in the top of the running back market, but cost-effective options who could be available in free agency include Brian Robinson, Najee Harris and Arizona Cardinals running backs Michael Carter and Emari Demercado (a restricted free agent), both of whom played for new Lions offensive coordinator Drew Petzing last season.
The Lions now have three running backs on the roster: Gibbs, Sione Vaki and Jacob Saylors.
This story will be updated.
