The Detroit Lions have had arguably the top running back duo in the NFL over the past three seasons, but that could come to an end this spring.
While Jahmyr Gibbs is in line to potentially set contract records at the position this offseason or the next, David Montgomery — the thunder to Gibbs’ lightning in the high-octane Lions’ offense — could be on his way out.
Montgomery inked a two-year extension worth $18.25 million in 2024 that keeps him under contract through 2027. However, Detroit could save $6 million this season and $9 million in the following year by cutting Montgomery with a post-June 1 designation. The move would come with dead cap hits of just $2.37 million in 2026 and $1.25 million in both 2027 and 2028.
“David Montgomery was effective in his role and the savings aren’t huge,” Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report wrote Friday, January 29 when naming Montgomery a top-three cut candidate for the Lions. “Yet, his role took another step back to Jahmyr Gibbs. Montgomery had a career-low 158 carries despite playing in 17 games for the first time in his career.”
Massive Payday Coming for Jahmyr Gibbs Puts David Montgomery’s Future With Lions in Question
GettyRunning back Jahmyr Gibbs of the Detroit Lions.
Montgomery will play his eighth season in 2026 at 29 years old. So while he has accumulated meaningful tread, his play isn’t likely the reason Detroit will seriously consider parting ways with the two-time 1,000-yard rusher.
Instead, the money the Lions are going to have to pay to keep Gibbs on the team longterm necessitates getting cheaper at the positions around and behind him.
Dan Graziano of ESPN predicted Friday that Gibbs will ink a four-year extension worth $80 million, including $30 million guaranteed. That would set a league record for total value of a RB contract and would also put Gibbs within a stone’s throw for the highest annual average salary and highest guaranteed total at the position in NFL history.
Saquon Barkley of the Philadelphia Eagles owns those two records, as his most recent contract pays him $36 million in guaranteed dollars and comes in at $20.6 million annually.
“Gibbs likely tries to beat Barkley’s number, while the Lions will likely try to keep the number under $20 million,” Graziano wrote.
Solid Case Exists for David Montgomery to Remain With Lions in 2026
GettyRunning back David Montgomery of the Detroit Lions.
Montgomery rushed for 716 yards and eight touchdowns at a clip of 4.5 yards per haul in 2025. He added 24 receptions for 192 receiving yards.
Meanwhile, Gibbs finished the year with 1,223 rushing yards and 13 TDs, averaging 5.0 yards per carry. He also caught 77 passes for 616 yards and five scores.
The case for Montgomery remaining in a Lions uniform next season is that he is still an effective counter to Gibbs who can run, catch and block from the position, which allows Detroit’s offense versatility and the ability to keep defense’s off-balance regardless of who lines up at running back.
The Lions may also decide to hold off on extending Gibbs until the spring of 2027, as he is entering the final year of his rookie deal this season and Detroit holds a fifth-year team option on the contract.
That allows for more runway to sign him longterm, which could better suit the Lions given they must figure out extensions for both tight end Sam LaPorta and safety Brian Branch this offseason or risk them testing free agency in 2027.
Finally, a Montgomery cut saves the Lions $6 million at most, and potentially as little as $3.5 million, against next year’s salary cap if it happens in the coming months. Detroit isn’t in dire financial circumstances, currently facing a cap deficit of just $8.7 million as of January 31.
