A year ago, it would’ve been unfathomable for the Detroit Lions to trade away David Montgomery. The 1B to Jahmyr Gibbs’ 1A, Montgomery was in the renaissance of his career. In 2023-24, Montgomery tallied 1,790 rushing yards, 4.4 yards per carry, and 25 rushing touchdowns. Montgomery and Gibbs seemed like the ideal running back duo that everyone was trying to recreate.
But after a 2025 season that went awry, the Lions heavily suggested that Montgomery wanted out from a situation that wasn’t utilizing him to his liking.
“We would love to have him. Kind of want to put last year in the rearview and just move forward,” Lions general manager Brad Holmes said last week. “But a player has to want to be at a certain place as well, so those conversations are still fluid and we’re just kind of seeing how it goes.”
Let’s break down the trade and hand out a grade for the Lions.
Value grade: A
Back in January, I explored what the Lions may be able to get for a David Montgomery trade based on some recent running back trades across the league. The likes of Tank Bigsby, Jordan Mason, Cam Akers, and Joe Mixon all netted no more than a fifth + sixth-round pick. I concluded, therefore:
“So, at best, the Lions would get a fifth-round pick. More likely, they’re getting a sixth-round pick or a swap of late Day 3 picks.”
Instead, the Lions got:
- A 2026 fourth-round pick
- A 2027 seventh-round pick
- G/C Juice Scruggs
That’s an absolute haul for a 29-year-old running back who has fairly pricey salaries over the next two years ($5.49M and $7.49M). Don’t get me wrong, Montgomery is still playing at a high level, but to get two picks and an offensive lineman who could challenge for a starting job is a fantastic return.
Roster impact grade: C-
The Lions’ roster is now worse than it was before the Montgomery trade. A team that already had several holes going into the offseason (center, defensive end, linebackers, and maybe cornerback) now has another significant role to fill.
And while I like the addition of Scruggs, I am not banking on him being a starter after flaming out in just a couple of years in Houston. Depth is important and needed on the offensive line, so the addition certainly has value.
But can the Lions find a running back replacement with the additional value of the trade? Could they find an RB2 with a fourth-round pick? It’s certainly possible. Last year, the likes of Cam Skattebo, Woody Marks, and Kyle Monangai—all fourth-round picks or later—had a fair amount of success in their rookie seasons.
I don’t suspect anyone on the current roster—Sione Vaki, Jacob Saylors, Kye Robichaux, or Jabari Small—will compete for that role, so the Lions will have to spend offseason resources to fill Montgomery’s spot.
Overall grade: B+
While I hate moving on from Montgomery—a good player and a good person—this is life for the Detroit Lions now. The downside of paying your young superstars is that you can’t afford to have aging players on big deals, as well.
I think this trade signifies that Holmes likely made a mistake giving Montgomery a two-year extension in the middle of the 2024 season, but I think this trade mitigates some of that mistake.
In short, the Lions probably got the maximum value they could out of a Montgomery trade; they did right by a player that presumably wanted out, they have a chance to get younger and cheaper at a position that doesn’t age well, and they improved their offensive line depth in the process, as well.
I don’t like losing Montgomery just like I didn’t like losing Jamaal Williams three years ago. But that situation is a great reminder that sometimes teams are actually better off following a tough move like that.
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