Houston Texans Strengthen Offense by Trading for Star RB David Montgomery from Lions with a Record-Breaking Contract

Houston, Texas – March 5, 2026

With the goal of making a strong push for the 2026 season, the Houston Texans made a significant move to strengthen their offense. On March 2, 2026, Texans officially traded for David Montgomery from the Detroit Lions, adding a highly experienced and powerful running back to their backfield as part of their strategy to improve after a tumultuous season.

According to the official announcement, Houston Texans acquired David Montgomery in exchange for offensive lineman (center/guard) Juice Scruggs (a second-round draft pick in 2023), a fourth-round pick in 2026, and a seventh-round pick in 2027.

Montgomery, 28, joined the Lions from the Chicago Bears in 2023 and immediately became one of the team’s key running backs. Over the past two seasons with the Lions, Montgomery rushed for 3,038 yards and scored 29 touchdowns, proving himself as a consistent and hard-nosed back who could drive the offense forward.

The Houston Texans are currently building their team around young QB C.J. Stroud, and adding a reliable veteran running back like Montgomery makes perfect sense. After trading Tytus Howard to the Cleveland Browns on the same day, the Texans continued their strategic moves to strengthen their offense.

With Montgomery set to become the RB1 for Houston, he will join forces with Woody Marks and C.J. Stroud, giving the Texans a dynamic backfield that will support Stroud and bring balance to their offense with a ground-and-pound style of play.

Montgomery is the epitome of consistency and reliability—a player who can take hits and still keep pushing forward. He’s the anchor of the backfield, providing stability and creating running lanes for the offense.

While he may not be the fastest running back in the league, Montgomery brings an elite ability to break through tackles, especially when it comes to controlling the game clock and maintaining ball possession. His style of play makes him the perfect addition for a team like the Texans, who need stability and depth in their running game.

This trade not only improves the Texans’ roster but also sends a message across the NFL. Adding a veteran player like Montgomery brings immediate experience to the team, helping to solidify a playoff-contending offense.

With a salary cap of around $38 million, the Texans were able to make a strategic addition to their backfield without breaking the bank. This trade demonstrates the team’s smart use of resources to improve the offense without sacrificing future financial flexibility.

Montgomery will start the 2026 season as the RB1 for the Texans, bringing his valuable experience from Detroit and providing leadership to a young team. He will be a key component in balancing the offensive game plan and will work closely with Woody Marks and CJ Stroud to create an effective and efficient offense.

With Montgomery joining the Texans, the team is now set up to be a formidable contender in the upcoming season. Fans are eager to see what the future holds with their new lead back.