David Montgomery reportedly 'wants out' as Lions weigh trade options
david montgomery has told contacts he no longer wants to stay in Detroit, a development that could push the Lions to try to move the 28-year-old running back this offseason as they juggle playing time and salary-cap priorities.
Combine report lays out price and rationale
Insider Jeremy Fowler wrote from the 2026 NFL combine that "the Lions' David Montgomery wants out, has a reasonable contract (owed $6 million in 2026) and is 28. " Fowler added that Detroit would seek a decent Day 3 pick — possibly a fifth-rounder — in exchange, and suggested Seattle could be a logical landing spot if it fails to re-sign Kenneth Walker III. Those specifics — age, 2026 salary figure and the possible draft return — form the core of a trade case the Lions would consider.
Role diminished with Jahmyr Gibbs as focal point
The report notes Montgomery's role has been reduced as Jahmyr Gibbs becomes the offense's centerpiece, a shift that contributes to Montgomery's desire to depart. The former Chicago Bears running back now faces limited opportunities in Detroit's backfield, a reality Fowler tied directly to the team's roster construction and to Montgomery's contract standing.
David Montgomery and the club's cap calculus
Fowler also flagged the salary-cap angle: Montgomery's 2026 figure could be high relative to his on-field production, and the team needs to free money to pay its own impending free agents and extension-eligible players. That financial pressure, combined with a diminished on-field role, is the reason Detroit would entertain offers and seek draft compensation rather than simply keeping him.
Lions leaders say they'd like him back but understand desire to leave
Team voices have expressed mixed public posture. Both Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes have said they would love for Montgomery to return, while acknowledging he may want to move on to secure more playing time. In a recent appearance on "The Rich Eisen Show, " Holmes singled out Gibbs as a core piece and said it was expected contract talks for Gibbs would begin soon, underlining why the front office is weighing long-term commitments against Montgomery's trade value.
The immediate consequence is a clear decision point for the Lions: pursue a Day 3 pick trade for a 28-year-old back owed $6 million in 2026 or try to keep a veteran who has seen his role shrink as the club prioritizes Gibbs. Holmes has indicated contract talks for Gibbs are expected to start soon, which is the next confirmed development the organization has signaled publicly.
