How David Montgomery trade to Texans impacts Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions offense

Detroit — For the first time in several seasons, Dan Campbell’s Detroit Lions offense is undergoing a significant makeover. Veteran running back David Montgomery has been dealt to the Houston Texans in exchange for a fourth-round draft choice, center-guard Juice Scruggs and a seventh-round pick, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The move severs the two-headed backfield that has powered the Lions since 2023 and clears the path for 2023 first-round star Jahmyr Gibbs to assume full command of the ground game.

Since arriving as the No. 12 overall selection, Gibbs has operated as the “1A” option while Montgomery handled early-down power duties and red-zone work. The arrangement produced one of the league’s most productive rushing tandems, but it also capped Gibbs’ snap count. That ceiling now disappears. Gibbs logged 250 carries and 52 receptions in 2024, then 243 carries and 77 receptions in 2025. With Montgomery’s 158 carries from last season redistributed, Gibbs is positioned for true every-down usage, though Detroit is unlikely to push him toward a historic workload.

The immediate question is who will absorb the leftover volume. The current depth chart behind Gibbs is thin. Second-year pro Sione Vaki, a 2024 fourth-rounder out of Utah, has seven career rushes in 27 games. 2025 undrafted free agents Jacob Saylors and Jabari Small have combined for two carries. General manager Brad Holmes can address the void through the draft—Detroit now holds nine selections, including No. 17 overall—or by mining a veteran market that figures to feature cost-effective options such as Zack Moss, Gus Edwards or Tyler Allgeier. High-priced free agents like Kenneth Walker, Travis Etienne or Breece Hall are considered improbable targets with the Lions roughly $9.5 million over the salary cap, per Over the Cap.

Montgomery’s departure also signals a philosophical pivot toward the offensive line. Scruggs, described in pre-draft reports as a “block of granite,” will compete inside as Detroit seeks to reassert physical dominance up front. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero noted that Campbell wants to “reestablish a dominant O-line” and return to the team’s foundational style of play.

Elsewhere on offense, continuity reigns. Quarterback Jared Goff, receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and tight end Sam LaPorta remain under contract, ensuring the passing game’s core stays intact. The Lions finished among the NFL’s top rushing attacks in each of the past two seasons and expect to remain there with Gibbs as the centerpiece.

Defensively, Detroit’s priorities lie in the trenches and at linebacker, where D.J. Reader, Alex Anzalone, Marcus Davenport, Rock Ya-Sin and Malcolm Rodriguez are all scheduled for free agency. Edge help opposite Aidan Hutchinson and a developmental tackle are also on the shopping list, but with limited cap space, the draft is expected to be the primary avenue for reinforcements. The Sporting News’ latest mock sends Texas A&M pass rusher Cashius Howell to the Lions at pick 17.

Monday’s trade, then, is best viewed as a bet on Gibbs’ ascension, financial flexibility and a recommitment to line-of-scrimmage supremacy. The “Sonic and Knuckles” era is over; the Jahmyr Gibbs era, unencumbered, begins now.