Detroit Lions Free Agency: Evaluating Isiah Pacheco’s Impact on Roster

The Detroit Lions have made a significant move during the second day of the 2026 free agency tampering period by signing running back Isiah Pacheco to a one-year contract. This comes after the team granted David Montgomery’s trade request, leaving the Lions in search of a power runner to support Jahmyr Gibbs.

While specific terms of the agreement remain undisclosed, Pacheco’s addition seems poised to effectively address the Lions’ need for a strong running game.

Pacheco, who began his college career at Rutgers, gained attention at the Hula Bowl, which led to his participation in the East-West Shrine game. He was subsequently selected in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs as the 251st overall pick.

During his rookie season, Pacheco stepped into the starting running back role midway through the year and contributed significantly to the Chiefs’ Super Bowl victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. He maintained his starting position in 2023, achieving a career-high 935 rushing yards and again securing a Super Bowl Championship.

Unfortunately, Pacheco faced challenges in the following seasons. He suffered a broken leg in Week 2 of 2024, which led to a stint on injured reserve. Upon his return, he struggled to regain his previous performance levels and shared carries with Kareem Hunt, who was acquired as a temporary replacement.

In the recent season, Pacheco remained a key figure in the Chiefs’ backfield but shared the workload in a timeshare with Hunt. He still led the team in rushing before a mid-season knee injury sidelined him for a considerable period, ultimately finishing the season with lower statistical output compared to Hunt.

Evaluating Isiah Pacheco’s Impact on the Detroit Lions Roster

Experts have mixed views on Pacheco’s abilities going forward. His injuries have raised concerns regarding his explosiveness and overall production. Nevertheless, he has demonstrated reliability in critical aspects such as short-yardage situations and pass protection, which the Lions are likely to utilize.

• Pacheco has made 15 broken tackles in the last season, just two fewer than Montgomery on similar workloads.
• His production declined since his standout rookie year but he remains a formidable runner.

Impact on Lions’ Rushing Strategy

With the Lions leaning more on Jahmyr Gibbs, who received 64% of the touches last season compared to Montgomery’s 50-50 split a year prior, expectations are that Pacheco will see less work than Montgomery’s 182 touches in 2025. Pacheco was aiming for 172 touches before injury complications disrupted his season.

Despite these setbacks, his physical running style could become an essential asset, particularly in short-yardage situations and late-game scenarios when defenders are fatigued.

The Lions now have a solid backup behind Gibbs with Pacheco’s signing, alleviating the immediate need for another running back in free agency. Currently, the Lions have several backs on their roster, but only Gibbs and Sione Vaki have contracts extending beyond the current season.

As they prepare for the upcoming NFL Draft, the Lions hold a total of seven picks on Day 3. They may seek to add a rookie running back, should they wish to bolster their backfield further, particularly given the less competitive nature of this year’s draft class.