There’s a new lead back taking over the Houston Texans’ backfield in 2026.
According to reports, the Texans are trading for Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery in exchange for several late-round picks. Houston plans on making the Lions‘ star its new lead rusher pair alongside Woody Marks.
The Texans will trade a 2026 fourth-round pick, a 2027 seventh-round pick and offensive lineman Juice Scruggs for Montgomery. The hope would be for Houston to extend the 28-year-old running back when he touches down, similar to how Houston traded for Pro Bowler Joe Mixon in 2024.
Since arriving in Detroit, Montgomery has been one of the league’s top No. 2 runners. Splitting carries with All-Pro Jahmyr Gibbs, the former Iowa State standout has averaged over 740 yards per season on 170 carries and scored 10 touchdowns, helping the Lions make the playoffs two of the past three campaigns.
In Houston, expect him to be the lead back, similar to his time with the Chicago Bears from 2019-2022. Montgomery rushed for 716 yards and eight touchdowns last season, his third with the Lions. His role in Detroit has steadily diminished, however, because of the emergence of Gibbs in 2024.
Over his three seasons with the Lions, Montgomery racked up 2,506 rushing yards, 650 receiving yards and 33 touchdowns. He’s also scored at least seven touchdowns in five of his seven NFL seasons.
How did the experts grade the trade? How did Texans Wire grade the trade? Here are the top grades on Houston’s newest tailback added to the backfield.
Texans Wire’s Cole Thompson – B+
Given Nick Caserio’s track record of finding veteran tailbacks looking for a fresh start, it’s hard to hate the move. Yes, the asking price is a bit steep, but Juice Scruggs was entering the year fighting for a roster spot, while most seventh-round picks never make it to the Texans’ draft boards, anyways.
With Montgomery, the Texans are banking on the limited reps to be a reason for the youthful upside despite entering Year 8 in the league. He’s the ideal fit for Nick Caley’s zone-based offense, relying on physical runs over speed toward the outside. He’s also been a wrecking ball inside the goal line, totaling six red zone touchdowns last season. That was perhaps the biggest weakpoint of Houston’s offense last season under the first-year play-caller.
Montgomery must prove he still has the potential to be a lead back, but given the market and his $6 million salary, the Texans once again may have found a Pro Bowl-caliber star just looking for a chance to be a lead back.
Sporting News’ Vinnie Iyer – A
From Iyer:“The Texans had to scramble last season with Joe Mixon’s knee injury concerns lingering and ended up with rookie Woody Marks and former Browns star Nick Chubb, who turned 30 in December, leading the backfield. Marks was their leading rusher and receiver from the position, flashing some big-play ability.
But Marks also proved to be very inefficient working behind a mediocre offensive line. Montgomery smashed to big rushing and scoring with the Lions’ dynamic blocking and high-octane scheme. He is a tough runner who gets the yards between the tackles, finishes well in a goal line and does all the little things well in the passing game. At 28 and coming off working in a committee in Detroit, Montgomery offers plenty of fresh, strong legs to be featured and help stabilize the backfield for C.J. Stroud.”
CBS Sports’ Tyler Sullivan – B
From Sullivan: “The Texans needed to do something about their lackluster running game, and Montgomery increases the talent level of the backfield. With that in mind, they are a better team on Monday than they were on Sunday before the deal.
“This trade should also free second-year running back Woody Marks up for a large role in the passing game. Marks only caught 24 balls for 208 yards and three touchdowns during his rookie season, but he has the potential to be a legit threat as a receiver out of the backfield. With Montgomery likely handling the short-yardage situations, Houston would be wise to kick the tires with Marks as a true passing down back, while sprinkling him in on early downs. It certainly wouldn’t be the Sonic and Knuckles duo that Detroit enjoyed with Gibbs and Montgomery, but there is potential there to get a little bit more dynamic with Marks in 2026, thanks to this trade. “
ESPN’s Seth Walder- D
From Walder: “In Montgomery, the Texans acquire a reliable veteran who recorded 125 rush yards over expected with Detroit in 2025, per NFL Next Gen Stats. But his role has steadily decreased in recent years with the emergence of Jahmyr Gibbs. In the 14 games Montgomery played in 2023, he was featured on 48% of snaps and carried the ball 219 games. By 2025, those numbers dropped to 37% and 158, respectively, despite playing in 17 games. Montgomery’s receiving work was also limited because of Gibbs — as his 24 receptions last season were nowhere close to the 54 he once caught with the Bears in 2020.
“Montgomery’s contract is reasonable: It’ll cost Houston $6 million in cash this year (and $9 million nonguaranteed next year) if left untouched. But that does not mean this was a smart acquisition. An aging (29 years old in June), early-down back whose prior team had been phasing him out is not worth spending real resources on. It surprises me that Detroit was able to lure a four-seven swap here since the Texans could have found comparable expected production for far less.”
Sports Illustrated’s Mike Kadlick – C+
From Kadlick: “On the surface, the Texans are bringing some much-needed help to a running back room that ran for a lowly 1,852 yards and nine touchdowns in 2025, averaging only 3.9 yards per carry, the fourth-fewest in the NFL. Houston doesn’t sound confident in Joe Mixon’s return to the fold, and while rookie Woody Marks showed flashes, he’s far from bell-cow caliber, as evidenced by his multiple early exits due to injuries this past season.
“Montgomery brings a reliable 4.5 yards per carry, 33 rushing touchdowns and over 2,500 yards on the ground over the past three seasons. That said, the way the Texans are acquiring him is worth questioning. After beginning Monday by trading away their most versatile offensive lineman in Howard to Cleveland, Houston is now not only trading away draft capital for Montgomery, but also moving another offensive lineman, Scruggs, who started 20 games for them over the past three seasons.”
SB Nation’s Mark Schofield – B-
“Montgomery is still a productive back, and with the emergence of Gibbs over the past two seasons, the diminished workload for Montgomery in Detroit means he could have a lot left in the tank for when he arrives in Houston. And as many NFL insiders pointed out when news of the trade broke, this move follows a pattern for Texans general manager Nick Caserio. Two years ago, the Texans traded for Joe Mixon, who was a big part of their offense the following year. Then, it was Nick Chubb who was added to the roster, and now Montgomery. Three power backs who can give the offense a boost.
However, trades do not happen in a vacuum.
Heading into the NFL offseason, one of the biggest question marks was how the Texans were going to shape their offensive line, and help C.J. Stroud. Bolstering their running game does seem like a smart move — and Montgomery will help in that effort — but a running game is often only as good as the five men up front along the offensive line.
With Howard and now Scruggs on their way out of Houston, two more pieces of that offensive line room have been removed from the board. That brings the grade down a bit, because we are left wondering how the Texans will shape their offensive line ahead of the new season.”
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Experts grade Texans trade for new RB David Montgomery: A smart move?