Report: Lions trading David Montgomery to Texans — and more

Sonic and Knuckles will not play together in 2026.

The Detroit Lions are reportedly trading running back David Montgomery to the Houston Texans, as first reported by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. In return, the Lions will get:

• Texans’ 4th-round pick
• OL Juice Scruggs
• Texans 7th-round pick

There was clearly some tension between Montgomery and the Lions after the 2025 season, in which Montgomery saw his usage decline with the rise of Jahmyr Gibbs. Just last week, Lions general manager Brad Holmes suggested that there were still 0ngoing talks between the Lions and Montgomery.

“Obviously, look, we love David. He’s a great player. We would love to have him. Kind of want to put last year in the rearview and just move forward. But a player has to want to be at a certain place as well, so those conversations are still fluid and we’re just kind of seeing how it goes,” Holmes said last week.

With the move, the Lions will clear up just north of $3.5 million in cap space, but now they have a significant need at the second running back position.

Lakers reportedly could battle with Knicks, Warriors for $149 million seven-time All-Star originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Los Angeles Clippers’ 34-year-old star forward isn’t set to be a free agent until 2027. 

The two-time NBA champion is in the midst of completing the second year of his three-year $149 million contract extension he inked with the Clippers in 2024, meaning a trade must be completed for him to leave Los Angeles this summer. 

However, Yahoo Sports’ Tom Haberstroh believes there’s a world in which the Los Angeles Lakers could battle the Golden State Warriors and New York Knicks for the two-time NBA Finals MVP’s services this summer.

“Maybe it’s a case where Adam Silver levies some sort of punishment, whether it’s forcing Kawhi Leonard’s contract to be invalidated,” Haberstroh stated last Monday.  And I think that would be one of the things that is on the table, because that is what David Stern did with the Joe Smith cap circumvention with the Minnesota Timberwolves decades ago.”

“The interesting thing on that is it provides a conundrum where I think if Kawhi Leonard is now a free agent, you’re now going to see a frenzy for his services, with the likes of the Lakers, with the likes of the Golden State Warriors, or the New York Knicks."

“They would try to go get Kawhi Leonard at this stage as a free agent. That would create more hysteria and chaos around the league.”

While Haberstroh’s idea is undoubtedly far-fetched, it isn’t completely out of the equation. If it somehow materializes, the Lakers could position themselves to sign the accomplished veteran after striking out on him in 2019 (he entered free agency after winning a title with the Toronto Raptors and eventually joined the Clippers).

Leonard’s two-way dominance when healthy would make him an ideal fit in JJ Redick’s system in Los Angeles. The San Diego State product is contributing 28.0 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 2.0 steals per game with the Clippers this season, shooting 49.4% from the field and 38.1% from three-point land in 44 contests. 

If anything, Haberstroh’s report emphasizes the importance of closely monitoring Leonard’s situation in Los Angeles. 

More NBA: Cavaliers acquire 6-foot-3 former Pacers star, two-time All-Star via G-League trade

The Dallas Cowboys chose to place the franchise tag on wide receiver George Pickens last Friday and it was something that just about everybody was expecting.

It happening in an official capacity was noteworthy though and sets up the next part of negotiations between the team and player. Dallas placed the non-exclusive tag on Pickens which means that he is free to negotiate with another team. Should another team offer Pickens a deal then the Cowboys have the right of first refusal, and if they choose to decline it the offering team would owe them a pair of first-round picks.

This whole process allows Pickens to test and gauge the market and provides an important point of protection for the Cowboys. It feels pretty win-win all the way around, but we are curious to hear what the rest of the class thinks.

Are you happy with how this has unfolded? Is there something you wish was different? Why?

Let us know what you think in the comments down below.

Why Lions traded David Montgomery to Texans for small return originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Detroit Lions have split Knuckles from Sonic.

Their two-headed backfield is now just one. David Montgomery has been traded to the Houston Texans on Monday, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

The Texans are sending a fifth-round pick back to the Lions.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler wrote about this over the weekend.

"The Lions' David Montgomery wants out, has a reasonable contract (owed $6 million in 2026) and is 28," Fowler wrote. "That has value. Word out of Indy is that Detroit would want a decent Day 3 pick (possibly a fifth-rounder) in return."

He got the cost right, and Montgomery now goes to Houston.

MORE: Cowboys show how NFL salary cap is (mostly) fake

Why did the Lions trade David Montgomery to the Texans?

Montgomery's trade is mostly about empowering Gibbs.

The younger back already took over the RB workload in 2025 after it had been an even split previously.

Montgomery is 28 now, and running backs often fall off rather quickly.

This move gets the Lions value back for Montgomery before injury or decline hits him.

Montgomery still ran for eight touchdowns in 2025 despite the reduced workload.

He also averaged 4.5 yards per carry in the recent campaign, showing that when given the chance, Monty is still a quality player.

It'll just be with the Texans now, not the Lions.

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• Ravens have a $38 million last-gasp Lamar Jackson solution to contract problem