For two seasons, Detroit Lions fans (and fantasy managers) had visions of what it would look like if running back Jahmyr Gibbs got more work. A change in offensive coordinator opened up that idea this season, and it happened as Gibbs had a career-high 320 touches.
Of course Gibbs seeing more work is a zero-sum game. So David Montgomery ended up with a career-low 182 touches while playing less than 40 percent of the offensive snaps this season.
As the latter part of the season progressed, the idea Montgomery could be traded by the Lions this offseason started to surface. For his part, Montgomery seemed to show some disastisfaction with his lack of work via Instagram.
During his press conference to wrap up this non-playoff season, general manager Brad Holmes was asked directly if he expected Montgomery to be back next season.
"Obviously, I know it was a tough year for him in terms of the lack of touches", Holmes said. "I'm not going to say I went into it planning for it to be that way. So, those are discussions that we're going to have to have a lot more depth in terms of, what's the best plan for him moving forward. Is that somewhere else, or whatever the case may be."
"I really appreciate everything he's done for us if it does go that way, but I hope it doesn't. We love David Montgomery. Those are conversations we're gonna have, I have a lot of respect for that player."
Holmes suggested discussions will be had with Montgomery, and if he'd like to be traded there will be a real effort to honor his request. It's worth wondering how the upcoming hire of a new offensive coordinator will play into that equation for the veteran running back, but it's also possible he'll ask to be moved regardless.
While Montgomery, who will turn 29 in June, is nearing the age where it's generally accepted a running back will start to decline, he seems to have plenty left in the tank.
According to Next Gen Stats, Montgomery was 11th in Rushing Yards Over Expected/Attempt among running backs with at least 90 carries during the regular season. He also faced the fifth-highest rate of eight or more defenders in the box (34.18 percent) among that same group of backs.
It's fair to say Montgomery will have some trade value, even if the Lions can most realistically expect a Day 3 draft pick in return. However, there's a fair case for him to now be considered one of the top available running backs this offseason--via the trade or free agent market.
With that, here are some teams who could make the Lions an offer for Montgomery they should not refuse.
4 teams who could look to acquire David Montgomery from the Lions
4. Tennessee Titans
The Titans already have a running back who is around Montgomery's age in Tony Pollard. But his playing style is a close comparison to the younger Tyjae Spears, who is line to be a core part of their future offense around quarterback Cam Ward. There's also $7.2 million in cap savings attached to cutting Pollard this offseason.
Montgomery, on the other hand, is about as much of a contrast in styles from Spears as it can get. The Titans' front office could squint, and see how they can create their own version of "Sonic and Knuckles" in support of Ward in the always wide open AFC South next year.
3. Denver Broncos
RJ Harvey has asserted himself as the Broncos' best running back over the stretch run of his rookie season, so he's lined up to be their RB1 next year. But with J.K. Dobbins, Jaleel McLaughlin and Tyler Badie headed for free agency, the depth chart behind Harvey may be completely overturned this offseason.
Head coach Sean Payton's history says he'll want to have two capable backs to split the workload between, and those two backs will have fairly distinct roles. Montgomery would of course be the "Thunder" to Harvey's "Lightning" in that scenario, and there would be no consternation about the amount of work Montgomery is getting (other than from Harvey's fantasy managers next season).
Payton's close relationship with Lions' head coach Dan Campbell would also, theoretically, grease the skids for a trade to send Montgomery to Denver.
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2. New York Jets
If he could pick his trade destination, and to an extent he may be able to, Montgomery would likely prefer a contending team and the Jets are not anywhere near that right now. But there are other reasons he might be willing to adopt a "New York State of Mind."
Former Lions' defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn just completed his first season as the Jets' head coach. Assuming no changes to his offensive staff, offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand and offensive line coach Steve Heiden are also former Lions' assistants who spent two seasons with Montgomery in Detroit.
Specifics of a trade for Montgomery are hard to pin down when it comes to any potential suitor, but let's revisit a possible trade proposal with the Jets that might just work. Making a deal for Montgomery also assumes the Jets lose Breece Hall in free agency.
1. Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs are headed for something of a reset offensively, with Patrick Mahomes' late-season ACL tear further complicating the equation going into the offseason.
In terms of the running back situation, Kareem Hunt and Isaiah Pacheco are both free agents with seemingly no better than a coin-flip chance to be re-signed. In a best-case scenario with the current pieces, Brashard Smith will be ready for a bigger role next season. But a lead back-type, he is not.
The Chiefs are likely to be notable players in the free agent market at running back, as the aforementioned Hall leads a class that has some interesting options. But with the idea of "no stones left unturned", Holmes' practical declaration Montgomery is available may have grabbed general manager Brett Veach's attention. And, even coming off a 6-11 season, the Chiefs are never out of proverbial "win-now" mode.
One potential darkhorse trade suitor for Montgomery, with the hometown angle driving his interest, is the Cincinnati Bengals. It's just hard to make a strong case for that team compared to the Titans, Broncos, Jets and Chiefs.