The Detroit Lions, like the other 31 NFL teams, have spent time at the 2026 NFL Combine discussing not only the future players they are seeing on the field, but also the fate of current players on their roster.
This includes running back David Montgomery, who has been a trade topic all offseason.
Lions RB David Montgomery Opens Up About Trade Rumors
The Lions made it all the way to the conference championship game at the end of the 2023 season, and it felt like they were a team of destiny. However, the past two seasons weren’t better; they were worse, and they missed the postseason entirely after 2025.
That makes Montgomery a part of a larger conversation about how they can overhaul the offense around quarterback Jared Goff, and finally appear in a Super Bowl.
Detroit’s general manager, Brad Holmes, was asked about the rumors swirling around Montgomery and his future in Motown. Holmes told the media that he has been in touch with Montgomery’s agent and that they have collectively had “healthy dialogue” about the 2026 season.
Now Montgomery himself is speaking up after Underdog NFL posted on X that NFL insider Jeremy Fowler is reporting that the 28-year-old wants out of Detroit.
According to Fowler, “David Montgomery ‘wants out’ and Detroit would want a ‘decent Day 3 pick (possibly 5th-rounder) in return.”
Montgomery was quick to respond with his own social media post directed at those circulating rumors about it.
“Damn, DMO told you that?” questioned Montgomery on X.
Damn, Dmo told you that ? https://t.co/ttg4DY6H99
— David Montgomery (@MontgomerDavid) March 1, 2026
Montgomery, who was originally drafted by divisional rival Chicago Bears in the third round in 2019, spent his first four seasons in the Windy City. During that time, he was a reliable and durable focal point of the Bears’ offense. They could count on him picking up almost 4 yards a run, despite playing behind weak offensive lines.
When the Lions signed him, the expectation was that Montgomery would excel in their elevated offense. He did during his first two seasons, but 2025 saw a bit of a regression.
According to PFSN’s RB Impact metric, he had a grade of C+ in 2023 and 2024, but that dropped to a D- in 2025. That regression began as Jahmyr Gibbs became the feature back, and Montgomery had to share the workload.
While it is too soon to say definitively that the Lions will not trade Montgomery, it is clear that it isn’t his goal to leave Detroit and look for a new team.
