The Detroit Lions could look to save some money this offseason by consolidating their backfield.
Jahmyr Gibbs has taken over the RB show. David Montgomery could be expendable.
That's what ESPN's Aaron Schatz suggested in a new article on Wednesday.
"It felt as if the Lions' 'Sonic' and 'Knuckles' backfield became more of the Sonic (aka Jahmyr Gibbs, 23) show as the 2025 season went along, although Knuckles (aka Montgomery) still played plenty of snaps," Schatz wrote. "Montgomery only dropped from 41% of offensive snaps in 2024 to 37% of snaps in 2025, but he also dropped from 221 touches to 182. Montgomery will turn 29 in June, and the Lions might look to save some money on the cap by moving on from him this offseason. It also might be better for his career to take a lead-back role with a different team."
MORE:The Packers are facing a bit of a ripoff with Malik Willis
Montgomery, the older and more expensive of the pair, surely is closer to his eventual decline. Running backs often fall off quickly.
He still ran for eight touchdowns in 2025, and he has run for 59 in his NFL career between the Bears and Lions.
Montgomery's 4.5 yards per carry in 2025 was a quality rate that shows he can still get the job done. If he becomes available, he'd likely have interested trade suitors.
The Lions would be taking a bit of a risk to get rid of Monty, but it also might be a step toward a future led by a big Gibbs contract. They'll need room to get that done, and Montgomery could end up as the odd man out.
More NFL news: