David Montgomery's trade to the Houston Texans has caught plenty off guard. The Detroit Lions got two first-round picks and Juice Scruggs.

He later shared his thoughts on being included in David Montgomery's deal, addressing the change and what it meant for him.

26-year-old offensive lineman Juice Scruggs from Ohio was a second-round pick who joined the Houston Texans in 2023. Reflecting on his time with the team, Scruggs said, "My time here has changed my life, and I’m forever grateful to the Houston Texans organization for turning my dream into reality.” 

“Thank you to all of the Texans fans for welcoming me with open arms. I came to Houston as a 23-year-old rookie and am leaving as a 26-year-old husband and father. Detroit - What up doe! Let’s get to work.”

From a roster standpoint, the deal moves proven production in different forms.

While Montgomery leaves Detroit as one of the league’s more reliable power backs, Scruggs, on the other hand, arrives from Houston as a young interior lineman.

Montgomery has a physical, downhill style that thrives in short-yardage and red-zone situations. Meanwhile, Scruggs has shown solid pass protection and interior blocking ability.

Playing 45 games for Detroit, Montgomery covered over 2,506 yards and 33 touchdowns. During his time with the Texans, Juice Scruggs played in 37 games, of which 20 were starts.

Breaking down the Lions-Texans deal involving David Montgomery and Juice Scruggs

The trade between the Detroit Lions and the Houston Texans was not just a player swap.

It included cap relief, draft picks, and long-term roster plans for both teams. The Texans got running back David Montgomery. In return, the Lions received offensive lineman Juice Scruggs, a fourth-round pick in 2026, and a seventh-round pick in 2027.

From a financial standpoint, Montgomery’s contract played a major role in the decision. The veteran back will earn about $6 million in 2026. This is the first year of a two-year extension worth around $18.25 million, which he signed with Detroit in 2024.

Detroit created about $3.5 million in salary-cap space by moving Montgomery. However, the trade still leaves $4.86 million in dead cap for the 2026 season, based on salary-cap data from OverTheCap.

ESPN’s analytics writer Seth Walder summed up the trade well. He noted that Houston gets “a reliable veteran” runner in Montgomery. Meanwhile, Detroit gains draft picks and offensive-line depth to reshape its roster.

What do you think about the trade? Did the Lions make the right move bringing in Juice Scruggs, or will the Texans benefit more from adding David Montgomery? Share your thoughts below.

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Written by

Kunwar Yashaswee Chhaunker

Edited by

Kalp Thaker