David Montgomery Trade Terms
The Detroit Lions are trading running back David Montgomery to the Houston Texans in exchange for offensive lineman Juice Scruggs, a fourth-round draft pick, and a seventh-round selection, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero, and Mike Garafolo reported Monday.
Fantasy Football Impact for David Montgomery with the Houston Texans
David Montgomery was a likely trade candidate heading into the offseason, with general manager Brad Holmes telling reporters at last week's NFL Scouting Combine that the team would have conversations regarding a move.
ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler reported the day before this deal was done that Montgomery wanted out, and that "Detroit would want a decent Day 3 pick (possibly a fifth-rounder) in return."
Although Montgomery took to X (posting for the first time in two years) to refute Fowler's report, the deal was consummated quickly.
The move also fills the void in the Texans' backfield after Joe Mixon missed the entirety of the 2025 season due to injury.
Texans general manager Nick Caserio acknowledged last week that there is no clarity regarding Mixon's future with the AFC South franchise.
But KCRP2 in Houston's Aaron Wilson notes the Texans are widely expected to part ways with Mixon via a failed physical, releasing him from his three-year, $27 million contract. The move would save them $8.5 million against the salary cap.
Montgomery will turn 29 in June and is set to make $5.49 million this season -- the first of a two-year, $18.25 million extension that he signed in October 2024.
He initially signed with Detroit in 2023 after four seasons with the Chicago Bears, who selected him in the third round of the 2019 draft. Montgomery spent the past three seasons in Detroit and racked up 2,506 rushing yards, 650 receiving yards, and 33 touchdowns.
But his role in Detroit's offense diminished as Jahmyr Gibbs ascended, with Montgomery going from 219 carries in 2023 to 185 in 2024.
That number fell to 158 last season.
Montgomery did not start a game in 2025, totaling 716 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. He also caught 24 passes for 192 yards.
In 2024, he rushed for 775 yards and 12 touchdowns and caught 36 passes for 341 yards in just 14 games.
Montgomery was on the field for 37 percent of the offensive snaps last year, which was not much of a reduction from 2024, when he handled 41 percent of offensive snaps in games played.
But his touches-per-game average was barely over 10 in 2025 after being over 15 in each of Montgomery's first two years.
He didn't have more than 10 carries in a game in any of the Lions' final eight games last year.
That will change in Houston.
Without Mixon, the Texans missed his dynamic, tackle-breaking presence. Veteran Nick Chubb was signed to replace Mixon.
However, Chubb didn't regain his old form from his time as a Cleveland Brown.
Rookie Woody Marks emerged as the primary back and showed flashes. He had one of two 100-yard games for the Texans' offense, rushing for 112 yards and a touchdown in a playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Jawhar Jordan rushed for 101 yards against the Arizona Cardinals.
But in the team's 28-16 AFC divisional round loss last Sunday to the New England Patriots, the running game was stonewalled.
They rushed for 48 yards on 22 attempts, and Marks was held to 17 yards on 14 carries and lost a key fumble. As Wilson pointed out, the Texans were 1 for 4 in the red zone in that game, which was a constant issue for a 13-6 squad.
The Texans ranked 22nd in rushing yards per game (108). Marks' 703 yards on the ground led the way.
The expectation is that Montgomery, who will enter the 2026 season as the No. 1 back for Houston, will lead to a more effective rushing attack and better numbers.
From a fantasy perspective, Montgomery will climb into RB2 territory in terms of draft value. But assuming he is indeed the primary option in Houston, the veteran will get the volume necessary to post RB1 numbers any given week.
