The Detroit Lions have officially traded David Montgomery. The running back is heading to the Houston Texans in a move for offensive lineman Juice Scruggs.

While Montgomery initially squashed the rumors of his trade by posting a cryptic message on social media, “Did DMo tell you that?” that statement didn't hold up.

Lions head coach Dan Campbell had initially said they wanted to establish a dominant offensive line, and NFL analyst Tim Pelissero says Juice Scruggs could be the best bet to reinforce the offense.

Pelissero has offered his analysis on the thought process behind this trade.

“Dan Campbell wants the Lions to get back to playing their brand of football, and that starts with reestablishing a dominant O-line. From the NFL pre-draft scouting report on Juice Scruggs: 'He plays like a block of granite…' That fits,” Pelissero reports.

Juice Scruggs has played three seasons with the Houston Texans. He was a second-round draft pick in the 2023 season for the Texans. He played second fiddle to veteran Michael Dieter for his rookie season. He played the role of center for the Texans for much of the 2024 season.

In 2025, however, he was moved to left guard, where he had a rough season, which may have led the Texans to trade him.

Juice Scruggs to be Graham Glasgow’s replacement?

Soon after the news of Montgomery’s trade broke out, the Lions' front office announced the release of offensive lineman Graham Glasgow.

This move will allow them to save $5.6 million in salary cap space. Glasgow appeared in 15 games, making 14 starts last season.

Glasgow posted on X that he was “grateful” for the 7 years he spent at Ford Field. “ I’m grateful for the 7 years I’ve spent as a Detroit Lion. I’m thankful for the great teammates, coaches, and friends I had along the way. I love this city and the fans that have supported me for the better part of a decade. There truly was no place I would have rather been.

It remains to be seen whether Scruggs can be a good fit for the Lions at Center and thereby justify their decision to trade away Montgomery.

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Written by

Shyam Hari

Edited by

Sagnik Bagchi