Carlos Monarrez of the Detroit Free Press is good at what he does: provoking reaction. But in this case, he’s making something out of nothing.
The idea that the Detroit Lions should trade David Montgomery because he didn’t talk much after a loss or because his carries dipped in one half feels like a reach, not a revelation. This isn’t insight, it’s speculation dressed up as concern.
Let’s be clear about a few things.
David Montgomery is exactly who the Lions want him to be
Montgomery has shown the same thing all season that he’s shown his entire career: he’s a team-first player.
Does he want the ball? Of course he does. Every NFL running back does. But there’s a massive difference between wanting more touches and being unhappy, selfish, or checked out. Montgomery’s own words tell the story:
“I just do my job. That’s not up to me. Whenever my name is called and my number’s called, I got to just be ready.”
That’s not a guy angling for a trade. That’s a pro doing exactly what Dan Campbell preaches, and exactly why Campbell trusts him.
Campbell even acknowledged the reality of Montgomery’s situation while praising how he’s handled it. That matters. Coaches don’t say those things lightly.
“He goes about his business, he handles it and I know that’s not easy,” the Lions coach said. “It’s not easy. I mean, you’re a guy who, he’s a damn good back and every good player wants their chance to help the team win and get some production, so I know that can’t be easy. I know it’s not easy. But he’s a pro.”
Jahmyr Gibbs being elite doesn’t make Montgomery expendable
Here’s where the Monarrez argument really falls apart.
Yes, Jahmyr Gibbs is more explosive. He might already be the most dynamic running back in the NFL. That doesn’t mean David Montgomery suddenly has no value; it means the Lions have luxury, not a problem.
Montgomery is still:
- One of the best short-yardage backs in football
- A tone-setter in cold weather and tight games
- A trusted pass protector
- A back defenses hate tackling in December
If the Lions are serious about winning now, not just looking smart on paper, you don’t trade away a proven, physical back because your other guy is a superstar.
That’s how contenders think. That’s how pretenders think.
The return wouldn’t be worth it anyway
Even Monarrez admits the reality here: the Lions wouldn’t get much back.
Joe Mixon — younger, more productive at the time, and with a bigger name — fetched a seventh-round pick. That’s the market.
So what exactly are we doing here?
Trading David Montgomery for a sixth or seventh-round pick doesn’t meaningfully help the Lions fix the offensive line, replace Kerby Joseph, or solve any real roster issue. It just creates one, depth at running back, while weakening the offense’s identity.
You don’t sacrifice certainty for a lottery ticket when you’re trying to win playoff games.
This Lions team is built on buy-in — Montgomery embodies that
This version of the Lions didn’t happen by accident. It happened because Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell identified players who bought into something bigger than stats.
Montgomery is one of those guys.
He blocks. He finishes runs. He accepts his role. He shows up when it matters. And when the Lions need one brutal, tone-setting drive to flip momentum, he’s still the back they trust.
That matters in a locker room. It matters in January. And it matters more than squeezing out a late-round pick.
The Bottom Line
This isn’t a “hard truth” moment. It’s not a tough call. And it’s definitely not necessary.
Carlos Monarrez is reading emotion into silence and workload into discontent. David Montgomery isn’t a problem to solve; he’s part of the solution. In fact, you should not be surprised if Montgomery’s touches go up over the Lions’ final three games, especially in Week 18 against the Bears.
The Lions don’t need to trade him.
They need him exactly where he is.
