The Sonic and Knuckles era has come to an end in Detroit.
The Lions traded running back David Montgomery to the Houston Texans for a fourth-round and seventh-round pick in this year's NFL draft and veteran offensive lineman Juice Scruggs.
In three seasons in Detroit, Montgomery rushed for 2,506 yards and 33 touchdowns.
Montgomery saw a reduced role last season when he had career-lows in attempts and rushing yards, as Pro Bowler Jahmyr Gibbs emerged as the No. 1 running back in Detroit.
Gibbs has made the Pro Bowl in each of his first three seasons in the NFL, rushing for 3,580 yards with 39 touchdowns and 5,029 total scrimmage yards and 49 total touchdowns. Gibbs' 49 total touchdowns are the most through a player's first three seasons in NFL history.
The Lions also return Sione Vaki, Jacob Saylors and Jabari Small at the position. They could look to add a veteran running back to that group.
Scruggs, 26, was a second-round pick (No. 62 overall) in 2023 by the Texans out of Penn State and spent the last three seasons in Houston playing all three interior offensive line spots.
He's played in 37 games with 20 starts. He started 13 games in 2024. He adds depth to the interior of Detroit's offensive line and could compete for a starting spot at center or guard.
