2026 Detroit Lions Offseason Thread

[Jason_R]

Yes, Montgomery was upset about a lack of carries. Yes, he probably said use me or trade me. Yes, the Lions probably said we want to keep you but if you insist on a trade we will honor it. Yes, the Lions want to establish that they are not going to cut him or give him away.

Unsaid in the whole thing is that the Lions didn't go away from him because they think he lost a step. They went away from him because their offensive efficiency went way down, as did their total number of carries overall. They were relying on Gibbs to try to manufacture offense because their OL and blocking schemes were trash. 

I doubt he will be traded and I hope he is not.  

[buddha]

3 hours ago, Jason_R said:

Yes, Montgomery was upset about a lack of carries. Yes, he probably said use me or trade me. Yes, the Lions probably said we want to keep you but if you insist on a trade we will honor it. Yes, the Lions want to establish that they are not going to cut him or give him away.

Unsaid in the whole thing is that the Lions didn't go away from him because they think he lost a step. They went away from him because their offensive efficiency went way down, as did their total number of carries overall. They were relying on Gibbs to try to manufacture offense because their OL and blocking schemes were trash. 

I doubt he will be traded and I hope he is not.  

exactly.  monty got less carries becuase gibbs is one of the best players in the nfl, and a home run threat every time he touches the ball.  no offense to monty, but gibbs needs more touches if the lions are to win games.  monty is replaceable, gibbs is not.

[KL2]

7 hours ago, 1984Echoes said:

I think there are a few teams who could pursue Montgomery and offer a 4th or a 5th.

I identified them a month ago but forgot the list of... about 4 or 5 teams? I don't remember them... but I think the Raiders were one of the teams IIRC. Monty is as much a culture change and tough-running change as he is still a talented runner. Enough to garner a late round pick coming back. I think there are teams willing to pay this price.

I think a trade of Monty is more of a possibility than an impossibility and does not warrant an outright release.

The mid-to-late-round pick coming back could be used to add a depth guy into the RB room...

Just my 2 cents.

I’d be shocked if he gets more than a conditional. Plenty of free agent running backs that only cost money and veteran players always return less than fans expect.

[1984Echoes]

It does happen though:

09-2025 Tank Bigsby traded to Eagles for 5th and 6th.

03-2025 Jordan Mason traded (+ 6th round pick #187) to Vikings for 5th (#160) and 2026 6th.

04-2023 DeAndre Swift traded (along with 7th #249) for 7th (219) and 2025 4th

11-2024 Khalil Herbert traded to Bengals for 7th

11-2022 Nyheim Miller-Hines traded to Bills for Zack Moss and 2023 5th

11-2022 Jeff Wilson traded to Dolphins for 2023 5th

04-2020 Matt Breida traded to 49'ers for 5th round pick.

[Jason_R]

2 hours ago, buddha said:

exactly.  monty got less carries becuase gibbs is one of the best players in the nfl, and a home run threat every time he touches the ball.  no offense to monty, but gibbs needs more touches if the lions are to win games.  monty is replaceable, gibbs is not.

Monty got less carries last year because the offense had 47 fewer plays overall. The fact that they were playing behind so much led to them having 92 fewer carries in 2025 vs. 2024. Gibbs had basically the same, 243 carries last year to 250 in 2024, but Monty had only 158 last year in 17 games played vs. 185 in 2024 in just 14 games played. Basically, since the OL and offensive scheme sucked, they asked Gibbs to play hero ball and Monty lost the carries. 

If they want to play Dan’s style of football, they need 2024 Monty. 

[KL2]

1 hour ago, 1984Echoes said:

It does happen though:

09-2025 Tank Bigsby traded to Eagles for 5th and 6th.

03-2025 Jordan Mason traded (+ 6th round pick #187) to Vikings for 5th (#160) and 2026 6th.

04-2023 DeAndre Swift traded (along with 7th #249) for 7th (219) and 2025 4th

11-2024 Khalil Herbert traded to Bengals for 7th

11-2022 Nyheim Miller-Hines traded to Bills for Zack Moss and 2023 5th

11-2022 Jeff Wilson traded to Dolphins for 2023 5th

04-2020 Matt Breida traded to 49'ers for 5th round pick.

Yeah and what’s the difference between all those guys and Montgomery?

[ewsieg]

3 hours ago, Jason_R said:

Monty got less carries last year because the offense had 47 fewer plays overall. The fact that they were playing behind so much led to them having 92 fewer carries in 2025 vs. 2024. Gibbs had basically the same, 243 carries last year to 250 in 2024, but Monty had only 158 last year in 17 games played vs. 185 in 2024 in just 14 games played. Basically, since the OL and offensive scheme sucked, they asked Gibbs to play hero ball and Monty lost the carries. 

If they want to play Dan’s style of football, they need 2024 Monty. 

Absolutely agree with you and I don't want to see Montgomery elsewhere either, but we currently have a gluttony at RB, so from Montgomery's perspective alone,  I understand if he wants a deal to protect his family financially.   We'll lose our advantage at RB, but if we focus on the offensive line we might still have a solid rushing offense and be able to focus on other areas we can take advantage in.

[Sports_Freak]

5 hours ago, ewsieg said:

Absolutely agree with you and I don't want to see Montgomery elsewhere either, but we currently have a gluttony at RB, so from Montgomery's perspective alone,  I understand if he wants a deal to protect his family financially.   We'll lose our advantage at RB, but if we focus on the offensive line we might still have a solid rushing offense and be able to focus on other areas we can take advantage in.

Montgomery would be a very expensive backup to Gibbs. Having a quality back like him to spell Gibbs or in case of injury is great but it's not fair to him. We'll draft a running back to backup Gibbs and use that cap space in other areas. Probably on the OL, maybe a center?

[1984Echoes]

3 hours ago, Sports_Freak said:

Montgomery would be a very expensive backup to Gibbs. Having a quality back like him to spell Gibbs or in case of injury is great but it's not fair to him. We'll draft a running back to backup Gibbs and use that cap space in other areas. Probably on the OL, maybe a center?

This is my thinking...

Also, RB's eventually wear out.

I don't think Monty is close, he still has productive shelf life in the NFL...

But I'd rather move on "one year too early" than "one year too late".

Especially with Monty being an expensive player as, primarily, Gibbs backup.

But I do think he needs to be replaced with another bruiser in the RB room... IMO.

Also, I don't know where we are with Viaki...

[Sports_Freak]

7 minutes ago, 1984Echoes said:

This is my thinking...

Also, RB's eventually wear out.

I don't think Monty is close, he still has productive shelf life in the NFL...

But I'd rather move on "one year too early" than "one year too late".

Especially with Monty being an expensive player as, primarily, Gibbs backup.

But I do think he needs to be replaced with another bruiser in the RB room... IMO.

Also, I don't know where we are with Viaki...

Ship him off to the Raiders or another bottom feeder AFC team. Hope to get a 5th or 6th round pick for him. The Lions sure seem to go thru running backs. Moving on from them when they still seem to have shelf life remaining. J. Wlliams and Swift come to mind. And now possibly Montgomery.

[Hongbit]

DMo traded to Texans for a 5th.    Hate  that it happened but totally get it from both sides.  
 

EDIT:  Schefty is updating that it’s a 4th, 7th, and IOL Juice Scruggs.  Not sure if we are throwing another pick as well. 

Edited 4 hours ago by Hongbit

[Shinzaki]

Its a 4th..Juice Scruggs and a 7th

[Hongbit]

That’s a great return for the Lions. Much more than I thought they’d get.  

[Motown Bombers]

If there is nothing else going back from the Lions, that’s a lot more than I thought they’d get. They also clear cap space. 

[Tenacious D]

Juice Scruggs just O-line depth?

[Motown Bombers]

3 minutes ago, Tenacious D said:

Juice Scruggs just O-line depth?

Possibly. Could be moving Ratledge to C and Juice starts at G. Former 2nd round pick who has been meh. He should be better than Awosika. 

[Motown Bombers]

What I like is the Bears got nothing and the Lions got three good years of Montgomery and multiple draft picks. 

[Motown Bombers]

 

[Mr.TaterSalad]

Getting a 4th and clearing out the cap space makes this a good deal if there was truly no way to keep Monty here. If Holmes uses that cap space to extend his own guys now and doesn't go into free agency to plug a hole or two I'll be disappointed. If he turns right around this offseason and extends Branch, Gibbs, and LaPorta right away, I don't know that this is the right series of moves at this point in time. Extending Gibbs at this point would be waaaaay too premature. Extending LaPorta, without knowing fully what his long-term health lookout will be is a big risk to take.

[lordstanley]

Have we given up on Vlaki as a backup RB given his 2025 injuries or is there still hope for him? Or just special teams only?

[Cruzer1]

3 minutes ago, lordstanley said:

Have we given up on Vlaki as a backup RB given his 2025 injuries or is there still hope for him? Or just special teams only?

No, but he's more of a special teamer. RB in name only.

[Cruzer1]

Scruggs was a 2nd rounder in 2023, and is listed as a center in the trade.

[Stanley70]

Can't see them keeping all three of Mahogany, Frazier, and Scruggs. He might have the edge since he can backup at center.

[Motown Bombers]

5 minutes ago, Mr.TaterSalad said:

Getting a 4th and clearing out the cap space makes this a good deal if there was truly no way to keep Monty here. If Holmes uses that cap space to extend his own guys now and doesn't go into free agency to plug a hole or two I'll be disappointed. If he turns right around this offseason and extends Branch, Gibbs, and LaPorta right away, I don't know that this is the right series of moves at this point in time. Extending Gibbs at this point would be waaaaay too premature. Extending LaPorta, without knowing fully what his long-term health lookout will be is a big risk to take.

It’s only $4 million in cap savings so let’s settle down a bit. If you don’t extend Laporta or Branch this year, you risk losing them. They will probably do with Laporta what they did with Hutchinson and extend him mid season. It’s not way too early to extend Gibbs. He only has one more year plus the 5th year option. The 5th year option will be expensive. Signing Gibbs now can lower his cap hit in the short term.

[Motown Bombers]

1 minute ago, Stanley70 said:

Can't see them keeping all three of Mahogany, Frazier, and Scruggs. He might have the edge since he can backup at center.

Why not? Mahogany is your starting LG and either Frazier or Scruggs at C.