David Montgomery is a Detroit Lion right now. He's the exact type of tough-nosed, strong rusher that the team needs behind Jahmyr Gibbs to make the offense truly dynamic.
The thing is, Montgomery is a veteran who is looking to be treated like the RB1 is really is. And, while he's been extremely successful in Detroit backing up Gibbs, Montgomery is probably looking for a way to bounce back from a 2025 season where he was severely underutilized by John Morton and Dan Campbell.
As a result, Montgomery has been brought up a lot as a potential trade piece for the Lions, one that they'd probably, begrudgingly, part ways with if it meant recouping some draft capital for this year or even some depth for their offensive line. General manager Brad Holmes certainly didn't quell those rumors in his NFL Combine availability on Tuesday.
"I've been in touch with David, his agent, and his representation. We love David, we love to have him. We kind of want to put last year in the rear view and just move forward. But obviously, a player has to want to be at a certain place. Those conversations are still fluid, and we’ll just see how it goes. "
Holmes doesn't write off a Montgomery trade at NFL Combine
Montgomery would likely have a good market, with several contending teams in need of running back help at a low cost. One team that blares when thinking about that fit is the Kansas City Chiefs, who are desperate to add a RB1 to their offense after struggling mightily on the ground in 2025.
Another team that could use Montgomery's services if their top rusher walks in free agency is Aaron Glenn's New York Jets, who might see Breece Hall leave for a big deal. Montgomery is obviously familiar with Glenn from his time in Detroit, and he'd be a bonafide engine for the Jets as they're likely to hit 2026 without a true franchise signal caller.
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Montgomery walking would be pretty devastating to Detroit's identity as an offense, though, despite the kind of package they can probably get for him in the immediate. Without him, they'll be relying heavily on Gibbs to generate rushing yards, which isn't the worst idea in the world if they manage to actually improve their offensive line.
But, there were obviously some instances last season where Montgomery was the far and away best option to use against tougher run-stopping defensive lines. His strength helped him average 4.5 yards per carry last year, whereas Gibbs' speed was only helpful if the Lions could successfully set screens in-game (hint: they barely could).
Holmes obviously wants to keep Montgomery on the team given his grit and dedication, in addition to his talent, but Montgomery simply might want a change of scenery. We will "see how it goes."