David Montgomery Traded to Houston Texans: Lions Send RB to Houston for Juice Scruggs and Two Picks
The David Montgomery trade is official. The Detroit Lions dealt their veteran running back to the Houston Texans on Monday, March 2, 2026, ending one of the NFL's most closely watched offseason sagas. The David Montgomery trade gives Houston a proven power back while freeing Jahmyr Gibbs to become Detroit's undisputed lead rusher heading into 2026.
David Montgomery Trade Details: Juice Scruggs and Draft Picks Head to Detroit
The Texans are acquiring running back David Montgomery from the Detroit Lions for offensive lineman Juice Scruggs and two draft picks. The Lions will receive a 2026 fourth-round draft pick and a 2027 seventh-round pick.
The deal won't officially go through until the start of the new league year on March 11. Both sides agreed to the terms Monday morning, with NFL Network's Tom Pelissero and ESPN's Adam Schefter confirming the deal simultaneously within minutes of each other.
Scruggs started 13 games for Houston in 2024 but started just one in 2025. The Lions are prioritizing interior offensive line depth after ranking 20th in run block win rate and 30th in pass block win rate last season.
Why David Montgomery Wanted Out of Detroit and Pushed for a Texans Trade
Montgomery was unhappy with his reduced role in 2025 while playing alongside Pro Bowler Jahmyr Gibbs. He had his fewest rushes (158) and touches (182) in a season despite playing all 17 games. After averaging 14.4 rushes per game in his first two seasons with the Lions, Montgomery averaged just 9.3 rushes per game last season.
Montgomery played 41 percent of offensive snaps last season, but that dropped to 33 percent in Weeks 11 through 18. He did engage in "healthy dialogue" with Lions general manager Brad Holmes this offseason while deciding whether to push for a trade or remain in Detroit.
The news comes just one day after Montgomery denied reports that he "wanted out" of Detroit, refuting an ESPN report from Jeremy Fowler that he was seeking a fresh start.
David Montgomery Houston Texans: What He Brings to C.J. Stroud's Offense
Montgomery had 2,506 rushing yards and 33 touchdowns in three seasons with the Lions. Since being drafted in 2019, he is just one of five players to reach at least 6,000 rushing yards and 50 rushing touchdowns.
Houston entered the offseason looking to bolster its rushing attack after a lackluster 2025 season led by fourth-round rookie Woody Marks and Nick Chubb, who is a pending free agent. The Texans ranked 22nd in rushing yards per game and 31st in rushing touchdowns last season.
His downhill running style, pass protection ability, and red-zone efficiency make him an ideal fit for Houston's evolving offense. Pairing Montgomery with quarterback C.J. Stroud gives the Texans a more balanced attack and alleviates pressure on the passing game in high-leverage situations.
David Montgomery Contract and Joe Mixon Update
Montgomery is due a nonguaranteed $5.49 million base salary in 2026 and $7.49 million in 2027. $1.75 million of his 2026 salary becomes fully guaranteed on the third day of the new league year.
The David Montgomery trade also clarifies how the Texans plan to handle Joe Mixon's situation. Mixon missed the entire 2025 season with a foot injury. League sources expect Houston will most likely release Mixon to save $8 million in cap space.
Montgomery will work in tandem with second-year running back Woody Marks. Marks rushed for a team-high 703 yards last season but is ideally a complementary back in a pass-catching, third-down role.
Detroit Lions Now: Gibbs Takes Over, Offensive Line Gets Upgraded
For the Lions, trading David Montgomery frees up more touches for leading rusher Jahmyr Gibbs. It also frees up cap space, allowing the Lions to extend players such as Gibbs, Jack Campbell, and Brian Branch.
With Montgomery gone, the Lions are now searching for a new RB2 to complement Gibbs heading into the 2026 season. Detroit figures to address the position either in free agency or through the draft using their new mid-round capital.
