Here we are again, watching another piece of the Lions puzzle get shipped out of Allen Park. The David Montgomery trade to Houston last month is officially in the books, and the draft compensation is now clear as mud.
What Detroit Actually Got Back
The Lions sent Montgomery to the Texans and received a 2026 fourth-round pick that landed at 128 overall, plus a 2027 seventh-rounder and center Juice Scruggs. That fourth-rounder? Already spent as part of a trade-up package to grab Michigan EDGE Derrick Moore in the second round.
So Montgomery becomes Moore, essentially. The 2027 seventh-round pick is still out there somewhere in the future, and Scruggs is what he is.
Montgomery’s Final Lions Chapter
Before he packed his bags for Texas, Montgomery put together a solid final season in Honolulu Blue. Running alongside Jamaree Gibbs, he carried the ball 158 times for 716 yards and eight touchdowns. He also hauled in 24 catches for 192 yards through the air.
Not spectacular numbers, but reliable ones. That was always Montgomery’s calling card in Detroit.
Look, trading a veteran running back for draft capital is standard operating procedure around the league. But after watching this franchise for decades, you start to wonder about every move. Montgomery was steady, dependable, and knew the system. Now we’re rolling the dice on a rookie pass rusher and hoping Scruggs can contribute.
Is this just smart roster management or are we setting ourselves up for another classic Lions moment when we need depth? Let me know what you think in the comments.
I’m actually feeling good about this move. Monty was solid but we needed to shake things up and get younger at pass rush. Moore has so much potential and we’re building for the future here. Yeah Scruggs might be a question mark but that’s how you have to operate in the NFL sometimes.
Here we go again trading away experience for potential and hoping it works out. Montgomery wasn’t putting up crazy numbers but he was reliable and honestly we’re gonna miss that depth when Gibbs gets banged up. I hope I’m wrong but this feels like one we’ll regret.
Man I’ve seen so many running backs come and go in this uniform over the years. Montgomery was nothing special but he got his yards and showed up when it mattered. Trading vets for rookies is always a gamble and my stomach hurts every time we do it cause I’ve watched it blow up before.
People are overthinking this. Every team in the league does this kind of deal. We got a shot at a young edge rusher and that’s what we need way more than a backup running back. The rebuild doesn’t happen if we’re clinging to past players. Let’s trust the process.