A gritty runner, Montgomery is a trusty plow who can run through arm tackles and consistently falls forward. He is also capable as an outlet receiver. Montgomery should immediately aid in the red zone.
Since 2023, Montgomery has generated 33 rushing scores, sixth among RBs. The Texans, in that same span, have 34 rushing touchdowns, tied for fifth-fewest, per NFL Research.
Pairing Montgomery and Marks gives a good one-two punch out of the backfield. The offensive line, however, still needs upgrading. In addition to shipping out Scruggs, a former second-round pick who started just one game in 2025, the Texans traded versatile starter Tytus Howard to Cleveland on Monday.
Montgomery has two years remaining on his contract, with base salaries of $5.49 million in 2026 and $7.49 million in 2027, but no guaranteed money remaining. The move saves the Lions roughly $3.5 million on the cap. Later on Monday, Detroit saved an additional $5.5 million in cap space by releasing longtime offensive lineman Graham Glasgow.
The trade breaks up one of the most potent backfield combinations in the NFL and signals a massive workload for Gibbs at this point. With former fourth-rounder Sione Vaki the main backup remaining on the roster, Detroit is now in the market for a low-cost bruiser in free agency or in the draft to pair with Gibbs. The 23-year-old is also eligible for an extension.
The addition of Scruggs, who didn’t live up to his draft status in Houston, gives the Lions another option on the interior of an O-line that needed rehabbing this offseason. It’s a decent flier for Detroit general manager Brad Holmes, but shouldn’t hinder further upgrades, especially considering Glasgow’s departure.
The Lions added two additional picks to the eight they already owned in 2026, but still have just two in the top 100 selections.