By Pro Football Pulse Staff | March 3, 2026
The 2026 NFL offseason is already delivering major headlines before the legal tampering window opens on March 9 — and one of the biggest early moves is a surprising trade involving veteran running back David Montgomery.
In a surprising move Monday, the Detroit Lions traded Montgomery to the Houston Texans in exchange for guard Juice Scruggs plus a 2026 fourth-round pick and a 2027 seventh-round pick — and now analysts are grading the deal.
📊 The Trade Details
Texans receive:
✔️ Running Back David Montgomery
Lions receive:
✔️ Guard Juice Scruggs
✔️ 2026 4th-round draft pick
✔️ 2027 7th-round draft pick
🦁 Detroit Lions: A-Grade Winning Trade
The Lions came out on top in this deal for several reasons:
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Youth advantage: With rising star Jahmyr Gibbs already in Detroit, Montgomery’s role had declined each year since 2023.
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Smart asset management: Detroit added a draft pick and a young lineman, improving both their future and current roster depth.
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Roster flexibility: The Lions now gain financial and strategic options at running back and elsewhere.
This is a textbook example of a team selling high and securing valuable building blocks. Grade: A.
🚀 Houston Texans: D-Grade — Overpaid or Misplaced Priority?
From a Texans perspective, this trade raises major questions:
🔹 Running Game Woes Remain
Houston’s rushing attack was one of the least efficient in the NFL in 2025, ranking 31st in EPA per designed carry — but that was largely due to a poor offensive line, which graded 32nd in run block win rate.
Montgomery is a seasoned runner, but plugging him into an offensive line that struggles to create running lanes doesn’t guarantee production — even if he posted positive rushing yards over expected last season.
🔹 The Cost is Steep
The Texans gave up:
✔️ A draft pick
✔️ A starter-level guard (Scruggs)*
✔️ Cap space on a 29-year-old running back
*Scruggs hasn’t yet proven elite, but the combination of picks and a young lineman is still significant.
Montgomery’s value remains solid, but this price tag — in both picks and roster capital — feels steep in a league where running back value has decreased in recent seasons.
Texans grade: D — a questionable return for assets invested.
📌 What This Means for Each Team
Lions Outlook
Detroit now has flexibility to draft another complementary back or address other roster needs, while also strengthening offensive line depth and saving cap space for free agency.
Texans Outlook
Houston clearly values adding veteran leadership to pair with second-year back Woody Marks, but they may have overpaid for a position that only becomes impactful with better blocking upfront.
🏁 Final Thought
This early 2026 trade feels like one the Lions will celebrate all offseason — turning a surplus veteran into picks and depth — while the Texans may find themselves questioning whether this was worth the price.
What do YOU think? Did Houston overpay — or is Montgomery the missing piece for their offense? Let us know in the comments!
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