After Lions’ David Montgomery Is Traded, Can He Help The Texans’ Running Game?

David Montgomery has been traded from the Detroit Lions to the Houston Texans.

The Lions will acquire the Texans’ fifth-round draft pick. NBC Sports reported that Montgomery wanted to leave the Lions shortly before the trade. 

Montgomery was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He played four seasons with the Bears and rushed for 3,609 yards. 

Montgomery originally signed a three-year, $18 million contract with the Lions in the 2023 offseason. Just a month later, the Lions drafted Jahmyr Gibbs with the No. 12 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.

The two running backs have developed good chemistry. They’ve earned the nicknames of Sonic and Knuckles, with Gibbs representing the speed of Sonic the Hedgehog and Montgomery representing the power of Knuckles the Echidna. However, reports from the draft said that Montgomery wasn’t told about the Lions’ plans to draft a running back. 

The Texans ranked No. 21 in the run game last season. A big reason for this was their No. 26-ranked offensive line, according to For The Numbers. 

However, their leading rusher was Woody Marks, a rookie who had just 703 yards. Veteran Nick Chubb also played in 15 games and had 506 yards. 

Having Montgomery at running back will make things easier for the Texans’ run game. Although offensive coordinator Nick Caley generally prefers shifty running backs over power backs like Montgomery, his system is versatile and can adapt to players’ needs.

Meanwhile, the Lions can use the draft pick and cap space to address their weaknesses. The Lions look to improve their wide receiver depth, offensive line, and pass-rushing. 

The NFL offseason officially begins on March 11. The legal tampering period begins on March 9, allowing teams to negotiate contracts without officially signing players.