David Montgomery’s three-year tenure with the Lions came to an end Tuesday after weeks of speculation surrounding his future in Detroit. Montgomery is off to the Houston Texans, with the Lions receiving a 2026 fourth-round pick, 2027 seventh-round pick, and reserve offensive lineman Juice Scruggs.
Montgomery thrived over the past three seasons in Honolulu Blue, totalling 2,506 rushing yards, 650 receiving yards, and 33 touchdowns. He departs Detroit a fan favorite, a key element of several very successful seasons. His tenure will be remembered fondly. But, it was time for a breakup. Rumors early this offseason suggested that Montgomery grew unhappy with a lesser role in the offense in 2025 as Jahmyr Gibbs took the lion’s share of the offensive touches. This trade gives him the opportunity to be the lead back for Houston.
For the Lions, the trade clears roughly $3.5 million worth of cap space. With holes to fill all over the roster, every dollar of space counts. More importantly, Brad Holmes secured a respectable return for a veteran running back that saw his role decline in 2025. Adding a 4th-round pick (#128 overall) in the upcoming draft gives the Lions another asset to deploy. Given Holmes’ proclivity to trade up, having as many mid-round picks as possible is immensely valuable.
Juice Scruggs, a 2023 second-round pick out of Penn State, is an interior offensive lineman with the ability to play both center and guard. He played 1,663 snaps across three seasons with the Texans, but did not develop into the reliable starter they hoped for. In 2024, he started eight games at center, four at left guard, and one at right guard. In 2025, he made only one start, but logged over 300 snaps in a backup capacity. Center is his natural position, but was often forced to play guard due to injuries and poor performance across the Texans line.
Detroit’s offensive line issues are well-documented at this juncture. Frank Ragnow’s untimely retirement last offseason left the Lions in a dubious position at center, and Graham Glasgow was unable to perform in 2025. The Lions released Glasgow on Tuesday, saving over $5.5 million in cap space. Christian Mahogany did nothing to earn a starting role going forward, nor did any of the reserve guards.
At a minimum, Scruggs provides the Lions with a depth option on the interior, particularly at center. He does not have any guaranteed money left on his contract, so there is no risk tied to his addition. Perhaps offensive line coach Hank Fraley can unlock a higher gear for Scruggs and develop him into a starting-caliber piece for the Lions. But, more than likely, he will serve as a reserve and not impact Brad Holmes’ pursuit of starting lineman in free agency and the draft.
While a painful separation for fans, trading David Montgomery was the correct thing to do for both parties. The Lions did right by abiding by Montgomery’s wish for a fresh start while also securing a quality return in the trade. Adding two draft picks, in addition to a depth piece along the offensive line, is a good piece of business by Brad Holmes and hopefully the first step towards re-tooling the Lions roster in pursuit of a Super Bowl in 2026.
