Winners, Losers in the Lions-Texans David Montgomery Trade

The Detroit Lions trading away star running back David Montgomery delivered a mix of results for who won and lost this trade.

David Montgomery #5 of the Detroit Lions runs with the ball during the second quarter against Byron Young #0 of the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Dec. 14, 2025. Harry How/Getty Images

Breaking up Sonic and Knuckles was the order of business in the NFL on March 2 when the Detroit Lions traded running back David Montgomery.

The Houston Texans acquired Montgomery in exchange for offensive lineman Juice Scruggs, a fourth-round draft pick, and a seventh-round pick. Montgomery, known as Knuckles, once paired well with Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs, known as Sonic.

Based on the old video game Sonic the Hedgehog, Montgomery and Gibbs gave the Lions a dangerous one-two punch in the backfield. Gibbs became the primary back in 2025, and the Lions saved $3.5 million in salary cap space with Monday’s trade.

Here’s a look at who won and lost the trade.

Winner: Lions Offensive Line

The Lions added a solid offensive lineman in Scruggs, who has 20 starts in the past three seasons. While he may not be a regular starter, he could add depth, helping protect quarterback Jared Goff.

Loser: Lions Running Back Room

Gibbs took the lead in 2025, but now he will have to shoulder the load unless the Lions find a reliable running back in free agency or the draft. Montgomery produced 2,506 yards and 33 touchdowns on 562 carries in three seasons with the Lions.

Gibbs rushed for 1,223 yards and 13 touchdowns on 243 carries last season. That marked back-to-back seasons of more than 240 carries, a frequency that isn’t sustainable for NFL running backs.

Loser: Jared Goff

Lions quarterback Jared Goff loses in this trade as a trickle-down effect from the thinning of the running back room. Goff has one less high-level rusher to take pressure off the passing game, and Goff has one less pass-catcher out of the backfield. Montgomery had 76 receptions for 650 yards in three seasons for Detroit, so he was a player Goff could get the ball to multiple ways.

Loser: Jahmyr Gibbs

This one might be temporary, but Jahmyr Gibbs let the world know via social media that he was saddened over the Montgomery trade. Gibbs posted a meme of Sonic and Knuckles going in different directions in tears. Gibbs and Montgomery embraced those characters as pseudo-identities based on their rushing styles on the field and on how they paired together as a tandem.

Winner: Lions Front Office

The Lions just freed up salary cap space for other priorities in exchange for a player in Montgomery, who wasn’t receiving an increased role. It’s a cold, hard business move that allows the Lions to keep building a Super Bowl roster, although the fan base doesn’t love Montgomery’s departure at the moment.

Winner: Texans Offense

The Texans improve at running back with Montgomery for all of the reasons mentioned above. He could be a 1,000-yard back if needed, which takes pressure off of Woody Marks, who had a solid rookie year with 703 yards and two touchdowns on 196 carries.

Loser: Nick Chubb

If Chubb had high hopes to make Houston his final stop, this is a loss for the talented veteran running back. He had 506 yards and three touchdowns on 122 carries last season, but Chubb will have a challenge at age 30 to land a big contract, the norm for running backs in the league.

Loser: Joe Mixon

Mixon is another talented running back on the Texans roster, but he didn’t play in 2025 due to injury, and his return in 2026 is in question. At age 30, Mixon could be cut to save salary cap space, and he will be hard-pressed to improve on the Texans’ contract for his three-year, $25 million deal.

Loser: Texans Offensive Line

Trading away Scruggs created more work for the Texans on the offensive line. Houston will need to replace him through the draft or free agency, and the Texans already sent offensive lineman Tytus Howard to the Cleveland Browns on Monday via a trade.