Houston Texans Given Harsh Grade for One Trade
A surprising D-grade for Houston's David Montgomery trade raises questions. Did the Texans overpay for a veteran running back, or is this a necessary piece?
The Houston Texans entered the offseason with a clear need to fix the running game. In many ways it looks like they did so with the addition of Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery and five offensive line signings. Some of the linemen with which the Texans reached deals were players that were on the team last season.
Even so, Houston solidified their offensive front and found a quality running back to run behind them. So, the offseason was a resounding success to everyone, right? Maybe not.
Houston's trade for Montgomery drew mixed reviews with some thinking the team gave up too much to get the ball carrier and others not super high on what the running back brings to the table. ESPN analyst Seth Walder gave the Texans a D-grade for their trade acquisition of Detroit running back David Montgomery. Walder explained why the trade was not necessarily the greatest value for the Texans.
"In Montgomery, the Texans acquire a reliable veteran who recorded 125 rush yards over expected with Detroit in 2025, per NFL Next Gen Stats. But his role has steadily decreased in recent years with the emergence of Jahmyr Gibbs. In the 14 games Montgomery played in 2023, he was featured on 48% of snaps and carried the ball 219 games.