Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery reportedly wants to leave the team after three seasons, according to an ESPN report on Sunday. The news has stirred trade rumors around the NFL as Montgomery continues to evaluate his future amid changing team dynamics.
Montgomery, however, took to X to seemingly deny the report, posting, “Damn, Dmo told you that?”
Detroit’s Trade Value for Montgomery
The ESPN report suggests that the Lions would likely ask for a reasonable compensation to trade Montgomery, possibly a fifth-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, as a return for the 28-year-old running back. Montgomery will turn 29 in June and is due $6 million in the upcoming season.
These trade talks come after Detroit’s general manager Brad Holmes expressed awareness of Montgomery’s dissatisfaction with his playing time during the 2025 season. Playing alongside Jahmyr Gibbs, Montgomery recorded a career-low 716 rushing yards and eight touchdowns over 17 games, none of which he started.
Brad Holmes Comments on Montgomery’s Role and Future
Holmes acknowledged the complexity of Montgomery’s situation earlier this year, stating,
“Those are conversations that we’re going to have to have because I’ve got a lot of respect for that player,”
and continued,
“He deserves to be in a situation where his skillset can be utilized, and so yeah would love for it to be here, but if it can’t be here then you’d just love to see where could work out best for him.”
At the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis on Tuesday, Holmes described Montgomery’s status as fluid. Montgomery signed a two-year extension with the Lions during the 2024 season, keeping him under contract through 2027.
Ongoing Negotiations and Team Perspective
Holmes further commented on ongoing discussions, revealing,
“Yeah, I have been in touch with David’s agent, and his representation,”
adding,
“Obviously, we love David, he’s a great player, we love to have him, you know, 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 as well. The conversations are still fluid, but we’ll see how it goes.”
Montgomery’s Career Overview and Impact
Over three seasons with the Lions from 2023 to 2025, Montgomery accumulated 2,506 rushing yards and 33 rushing touchdowns in 45 games, with 28 starts, while also catching 76 passes for 650 yards. Prior to joining Detroit, he began his NFL career with the Chicago Bears, a division rival in the NFC North, after being selected in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft. During his four years in Chicago, Montgomery gained 3,609 rushing yards and scored 26 touchdowns across 60 games, starting in 51 of them.
The unfolding situation surrounding Montgomery’s desire to move on could lead to significant changes in Detroit’s backfield and affect personnel decisions heading into the next NFL season.
