Texans Trade for Lions' Montgomery
The Houston Texans acquired running back David Montgomery from the Detroit Lions in exchange for lineman Juice Scruggs and draft picks. Montgomery fills a major void in Houston's backfield and signals the Texans' intent to compete immediately. The move comes as the Jets' latest seven-round mock draft features a bold first-round trade scenario following the NFL Combine.
David Montgomery arrives in Houston with two years remaining on a contract extension he signed with Detroit, valued at $18.25 million, with $10.5 million in new guaranteed money. This move solidifies the Texans' backfield after they struggled with the fourth-fewest yards per carry in the NFL during the 2025 season, averaging just 3.9 yards per attempt. The trade signals a clear feature-back role for second-year pro Jahmyr Gibbs in Detroit. Montgomery's workload had decreased in 2025, leading to career lows in carries (158) and rushing yards (716) as he shared the backfield with the emerging Gibbs. Reports indicated Montgomery was interested in a move for a larger role. In exchange for Montgomery, the Lions acquired offensive lineman Juice Scruggs, a 2026 fourth-round pick, and a 2026 seventh-round selection. Scruggs, a second-round pick by the Texans in 2023, started 20 of a possible 51 games in three seasons and provides Detroit with needed depth along the offensive line. Scruggs enters the final year of his rookie contract and will have a chance for a fresh start in Detroit. The Lions further signaled a revamp of their offensive line by releasing 33-year-old veteran Graham Glasgow, who started 14 games last season.
