From the moment last season ended, the Lions intended to trade David Montgomery. It no longer made sense to keep a starting-caliber running back with a starting-caliber salary on a roster with Jahmyr Gibbs.
"It was evident that there were less touches that he had," Brad Holmes said this week on the Lions Collective podcast. "And look, a lot of it was not just him. It's how Jahmyr had ascended. Me and David's agent -- and David -- we all had really healthy dialogue, and we just thought it was best for all parties. It was right after the end of the season that (we decided), let's just see if we can get the proper return."
That last part was crucial to Holmes.
"I told his agent, like, ‘Look, this guy's a good player, man. We're not just giving him away.’ So we were happy with the return that we got," Holmes said. "I'm happy for David. I think he's in a good spot."
Montgomery's preferred destination, per reports, was Houston. That's where the Lions sent him, in exchange for a fourth-round pick this year, a seventh-rounder next year and interior offensive lineman Juice Scruggs -- a strong return for a running back in today's NFL. But it wasn't the only place the Lions considered in trade talks, said Holmes. The Texans just happened to offer the best package.
"I knew he would have a market because he's a good player and he's still in a prime age. But really, I think the reason why we got the return that we got is because there were multiple teams competing for his services. We were really happy with the draft picks, but then to able to get Scruggs in it, that put it over the top."
"There were other teams that were willing to entertain similar kind of packages, but for where we were as a team, especially from an offensive line standpoint, to add a player like Scruggs who we did a lot of work on in the draft process -- his center ability, actually, was really impressive since he's gotten to the NFL and then able to play both guard spots -- and it worked with us from a financial constraints standpoint as well," said Holmes. "So when we got Scruggs in the package, I was like, it was a done deal."
Scruggs, 26, was a second-round pick of the Texans in 2023. He's played his best ball in the NFL at center, which was his primary position at Penn State. He'll give the Lions a solid backup to free agent acquisition Cade Mays and could also compete for the starting left guard job in training camp with Christian Mahogany, Miles Frazier and recently-signed Ben Bartch.
"He does have juice," said Holmes. "His makeup and all the intangible qualities that he possesses, we were all blown away by that coming out of the draft process. So just to see actual tangible evidence of him starting both guard spots, starting center, and actually holding his own at all three, it was impressive."
Still, losing Montgomery hurts. The Lions signed Isiah Pacheco to help fill the gap, but Montgomery was one half of the best rushing tandem in the NFL over his first two seasons in Detroit before things went sideways for the Lions' ground game last season.
"That's going to be not only a loss of just the player, but he was such an impact on our locker room from a leadership standpoint, our culture," said Holmes. "But it was all healthy dialogue. There was never any bad blood or anything. And I think it worked out well for both parties."
