Lions To Trade RB David Montgomery To Texans
The Texans are not finished on the trade front. A much-anticipated running back addition is now being lined up, with another member of their offensive line set to play elsewhere. 
David Montgomery is heading from Detroit to Houston, as first reported by Tom Pelissero, Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. In return, the Lions will acquire offensive lineman Juice Scruggs, along with fourth- and seventh-round picks (h/t Pelissero). The seventh-round selection is for the 2027 draft, ESPN’s Adam Schefter notes.
Houston was Montgomery’s preferred destination, Garafolo adds. He will now take on a prominent role in the backfield as the Texans look for improvements on the ground in 2026. Schefter’s colleague Dan Graziano recently named Houston as one of the teams likely to be active in March with respect to running back additions, so today’s news comes as no surprise. Montgomery in particular is a logical target in the Texans’ case given the fact he was seeking a fresh start.
Since the end of the 2025 campaign, a Montgomery trade has been a distinct possibility. Detroit has Jahmyr Gibbs in place, and his fifth-year option is likely to be exercised. That would ensure at least two more years in the Motor City, but a long-term extension at or near the top of the RB market is expected to be pursued. Keeping Gibbs and Montgomery on lucrative deals would not have been feasible given the Lions’ other financial commitments.
Instead, Montgomery will prepare to play for a third career team in anticipation of a heavy workload. The former third-rounder averaged fewer than 12 attempts per game for the first time in his career last season. 2025 was also the first season in which he fell short of 1,000 scrimmage yards. That could soon change with the Texans set to see Nick Chubb reach free agency next week. Fellow veteran Joe Mixon missed all of 2025 through injury and has since undergone surgery. A release in his case should be expected as a result.
Woody Marks has three years remaining on his rookie contract, but bringing in a veteran to split carries with him has long been expected. Montgomery, who turns 29 in June, will be tasked with doing so. He is owed a base salary of $5.49MM in 2026 with a scheduled cap hit of $6MM. Montgomery’s pact runs through 2027, but whether or not he lands a new commitment by that point will of course depend on his performance in Houston.
The Texans’ offensive line will certainly look much different next season. Houston agreed to trade Tytus Howard to the Browns earlier today, creating a vacancy in the starting lineup. Scruggs was not a first-team presence in 2025, but losing him will ensure Houston’s depth along the interior will be altered when next season begins. One year remains on Scruggs’ rookie contract.
The former second-rounder will now look to compete for playing time in Detroit. The Lions were known to be in the market for additions at the left tackle spot but also on the inside. Scruggs, 26, has primarily played at left guard during his career but he saw notable time at center as well in 2024. The future of Graham Glasgow is uncertain at this point, and a release or retirement in his case could open to door to playing time for Scruggs ahead of free agency.
The Lions will look to improve up front in 2026 knowing a stronger O-line will go a long way in helping their offense (a unit which finished fourth in scoring this past year) become even more effective. A running back addition of some kind will be required as well, though, with Gibbs now in need of a new backfield partner.
Browns To Acquire Tytus Howard From Texans; OL Agrees To Cleveland Extension
The Browns are taking the first of what will be many steps aimed at improving their offensive line this offseason. A trade agreement with the Texans has been reached. 
Houston is sending Tytus Howard to Cleveland, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. A fifth-round pick is heading the other way. This is the selection the Browns acquired from the Raiders in the Kenny Pickett trade in August, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer adds. Howard was set to enter the final year of his contract, but this trade is bringing with it a new deal.
Per Rapoport, a $63MM extension has been agreed to by Howard and the Browns with $45MM in new money being committed. As a result, the seven-year veteran will now be on the books through 2028. It remains to be seen if he will be used as a guard or tackle in Cleveland, but in any case Howard will aim to offer the Browns with stability somewhere up front as they renovate their offensive line.
“I wasn’t surprised,” the former first-rounder said in an interview with KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson following the news. “They’re trying to get younger and pay some guys. I ain’t mad. I kind of knew it was going to happen.”
Houston’s financial planning needs to take into account a pending extension for edge rusher Will Anderson. A long-term pact for C.J. Stroud may not be coming this offseason, but his 2027 fifth-year option is set to be exercised. A reset along the offensive line will be a key priority, Wilson notes, after the Texans struggled to protect Stroud once again during the 2025 campaign.
Last offseason, Houston traded away left tackle Laremy Tunsil. This Howard move is another one aimed at bringing about a notable change up front as the team seeks out improved play from its O-line. Howard, 30 in May, spent each of his first seven NFL seasons with the Texans. He started all 93 of his regular-season appearances and each of his four playoff contests over that span.
The Browns will thus be adding plenty of experience with this move. Wyatt Teller has made it clear he will not be retuning, while fellow longtime guard Joel Bitonio is once again a strong candidate to retire. Howard could step into either guard spot, something which would be familiar based on his extensive LG experience in Houston. Alternatively, the right tackle position could be his landing spot in Cleveland depending on how Dawand Jones is used in 2026.
Howard secured an $18.67MM AAV on his first extension, signed in 2023. This two-year Browns top-up is worth $22.5MM per season, and expectations will be high upon arrival. Once the trade is finalized, Cleveland will still have nine selection in April’s draft (including its own fifth-rounder). The Texans, meanwhile, will increase their total to 10 draft picks in 2026. At least some of that capital will no doubt be used on offensive line additions, with the same also being true of the team’s free agent resources.
Giants Would ‘Prefer’ To Trade Kayvon Thibodeaux
Four years after the Giants spent the fifth overall pick on Kayvon Thibodeaux, the outside linebacker’s time with the club may be nearing an end. The Giants have shown a willingness to listen to offers for Thibodeaux. The sense from teams that have spoken with the Giants is that they would “prefer” to move him, Connor Hughes of SNY reports. League sources expect a trade to occur, per Hughes.
Thanks in part to injuries, Thibodeaux has not met expectations during his NFL career. The former Oregon Duck missed three games in his first season, though he finished fourth in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting during a 49-tackle, four-sack campaign. Thibodeaux followed that up with a prolific 2023 in which he recorded 50 tackles, 16 QB hits, 12 TFL and 11.5 sacks over 17 games. His health and production have trended in the wrong direction since then.
Thibodeaux was on IR at times in each of the past two seasons, during which he combined for 12 absences and eight sacks. He registered a career-low 2.5 sacks over 10 games in 2025. A shoulder injury shelved him for the Giants’ last seven games.
Now 25, Thibodeaux is on track to reach free agency after next season. In the meantime, he will earn $14.571MM on his fifth-year option in 2026. Giants general manager Joe Schoen saw enough positives from Thibodeaux during his first three years to exercise the option last spring, but his stock has fallen since then. Multiple sources told Hughes it would be a challenge for the Giants to acquire anything above a fourth-rounder for Thibodeaux.
Selling low on Thibodeaux would be unfortunate for Schoen, who used his first draft pick as a GM on him in 2022. But a couple of Schoen’s more recent investments in pass rushers may make it easier to bid goodbye to Thibodeaux. Schoen dealt second- and fifth-rounders to the Panthers in a 2024 package for Brian Burns. He has since amassed 25 sacks, including a career-high 16.5 last season. The GM went on to spend another premium pick, No. 3 overall, on pass rusher Abdul Carter a year ago. With Burns and Carter ahead of Thibodeaux in the pecking order, an offseason trade looks like a strong possibility.
Offseason Outlook: Baltimore Ravens
After missing the playoffs for the first time since 2021, the Ravens made arguably the biggest move of the 2026 offseason: firing longtime head coach John Harbaugh. He spent the past 18 years in Baltimore, compiling a 180-113 (.614) record with 12 playoff appearances and a Super Bowl victory. But Harbaugh could not bring another Lombardi Trophy to Baltimore in seven seasons with Lamar Jackson starting at quarterback, and owner Steve Bisciotti felt he had to make a change.
The Ravens then embarked on an exhaustive search process to find just the fourth head coach in franchise history. Led by general manager Eric DeCosta, the team interviewed 16 candidates with Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter emerging as the man for the job. Now, the two will work together to quickly bring Baltimore back into Super Bowl contention. DeCosta has a number of key contract situations to address, while Minter will be tasked with getting the most out of the current roster. The Ravens' top priority should be getting stronger in the trenches, the primary source of their on-field issues in 2025.
Coaching/front office:
- Fired head coach John Harbaugh
- Hired Jesse Minter as HC replacement
- Added Declan Doyle as offensive coordinator
- Reunited with Anthony Weaver as defensive coordinator
- Promoted Anthony Levine Sr. to special teams coordinator
- Added Joe Lombardi as senior offensive assistant
- Hired Marcus Brady as pass-game coordinator
- Brought in Israel Woolfork as quarterbacks coach
- Dwayne Ledford hired as offensive line coach
- Rick Minter hired as defensive analyst
- Giants hired Harbaugh as their new HC
- Browns hired OC Todd Monken as their new HC
Firing Harbaugh brought a major paradigm shift in Baltimore, a moment that may well define the franchise for years to come. A 1-5 start from a team with Super Bowl expectations would put most head coaches on the hot seat, but Harbaugh was not most head coaches. After almost two decades with the Ravens, during which time he developed close relationships with Bisciotti and DeCosta, he was thought to be untouchable.
Colts, Daniel Jones Still Discussing Deal; Vikings ‘Closely Monitoring’ QB
As the clock ticks toward Tuesday’s 3 p.m. CT tag deadline, the Colts and pending free agent quarterback Daniel Jones are continuing to negotiate a long-term contract, Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reports. If an agreement doesn’t come together by then, Indianapolis is expected to place either the $43.39MM franchise or $37.8MM transition tag on Jones.
As of Sunday, the Colts and Jones were not close to reaching a deal. The team is reportedly leaning toward using the transition tag on Jones. Taking the less expensive route may give the Colts a better chance to retain their other top pending free agent, wide receiver Alec Pierce. However, they would be at far greater risk of losing Jones.
The Colts would have up to five days to match an offer for Jones, but if they passed on doing so, the signing team would not have to give up any draft compensation. Jones would be able to take offers all the way up to the third week in July. With most offseason business long over by then, It would likely be a catastrophic outcome for the Colts to lose him that late.
In all likelihood, nobody will tender an offer to Jones if the Colts go the franchise route. Doing so would force a team to part with two first-round picks for a quarterback who has been inconsistent throughout his seven-year career. If that isn’t prohibitive enough, Jones is recovering from a December Achilles tear. The former Giants first-rounder enjoyed his best season before then, but the injury dinged his stock.
Four days after the Giants waived Jones in November 2024, the Vikings added him to their practice squad. Jones finished the season with the Vikings, but he did not see any game action. Sam Darnold, who revived his career that season, was the Vikings’ starter during a 14-win outburst. Although Jones was down on the depth chart, he and Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell developed a “mutual respect” during their short time together, according to Jonathan Jones.
Darnold and Jones became free agents the next offseason. Even though Darnold led the Vikings to a playoff berth, they had 2024 first-rounder J.J. McCarthy waiting in the wings. Re-signing Jones was reportedly a higher priority for the Vikings than keeping Darnold, but they wound up losing both signal-callers.
Jones turned down a better offer from Minnesota to sign with Indianapolis for $14MM. He saw an easier path to playing time in Indianapolis, where only disappointing 2023 first-rounder Anthony Richardson stood in his way. It was a good decision by Jones, who beat out the injury-prone and inaccurate Richardson for the starting job. Richardson requested a trade last month, though he has not encountered a strong market.
Meanwhile, McCarthy dealt with his own injuries and performance issues in a 10-game first season as a starter. The Vikings went 9-8 and missed the playoffs. The team has not given up on McCarthy, but it will consider other options as it attempts to rebound in 2026. There is at least a small chance of a reunion with Jones.
The Vikings are “closely monitoring” his situation in Indianapolis, per Jonathan Jones. They could pounce if the Colts don’t place a tag on the QB, Jonathan Jones adds. However, it is unlikely Daniel Jones will reach the market unfettered. If he does, the Vikings would have to win a bidding war. It would be an especially difficult task for a team that is a projected $45.51MM over the salary cap as of now.
Raiders Planning To Release Geno Smith If No Trade Comes Together?
The Raiders are all but guaranteed to use the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft on Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza. The Heisman Trophy winner and national champion’s forthcoming arrival leaves veteran quarterback Geno Smith‘s future with the Raiders up in the air.
First-year Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak said last week that Smith is “definitely one of those options we’re considering” as a starter. While Kubiak is not publicly closing the door on Smith, trading or releasing him look like more realistic possibilities.
The Vikings, who at least want credible competition for J.J. McCarthy, are reportedly interested in Smith. The 35-year-old could intrigue other teams seeking a stopgap starter or a decent backup, though he’s one of many flawed options for clubs to consider. If nobody is willing to trade for Smith, the Raiders will indeed release him, according to Vincent Bonsignore of the California Post.
With the Raiders expecting to take sizable steps forward last year, they sent a third-round pick to the Seahawks for Smith in March. The swap reunited Smith and head coach Pete Carroll, who meshed in Seattle from 2020-24. The Raiders wasted little time in handing Smith a two-year, $75MM extension after acquiring him.
It quickly became clear that the Smith pickup, Carroll’s hiring and the extension were all misfires for owner Mark Davis, part-owner Tom Brady and general manager John Spytek. Over 15 starts last season, Smith threw an NFL-worst 17 interceptions (with just 19 touchdowns) and finished with the league’s second-lowest QBR. The Raiders went 2-13 in Smith’s starts and 3-14 overall, securing the No. 1 pick and leading to a one-and-done stint for Carroll.
As part of Smith’s contract, the Raiders are scheduled to pay him another $8MM in guaranteed money if he is still on their roster on Day 3 of the league year. Moving on from Smith by then would add $8MM to the Raiders’ war chest for free agency. At approximately $89.08MM, Las Vegas already has the second-most cap space in the league. Trading or releasing Smith would give them even more room to build a better roster around Mendoza.
RFA/ERFA Tender Decisions: 3/2/26
Three clubs made decisions on exclusive rights free agents on Monday. Here’s a look:
Tendered:
- Dolphins: CB Ethan Bonner
- Rams: OL Justin Dedich, K Harrison Mevis, WR Xavier Smith
- Seahawks: RB George Holani, S Ty Okada
As an 11-game starter for last season’s Super Bowl champions, Okada is the headliner on this list. After going undrafted out of Montana State in 2023, Okada combined for just nine appearances in his first two seasons. He barely factored in on defense then, but that changed in 2025. Not only did the 26-year-old play in all of the Seahawks’ games, but he recorded a 66.13% defensive snap share. Okada posted 65 tackles, six passes defensed, 1.5 sacks and an interception along the way.
Mevis, undrafted from Missouri in 2024, couldn’t crack an NFL roster until the Rams added him to their practice squad last fall. He later replaced the struggling Joshua Karty, whom the Rams cut in late November. Mevis converted 12 of 13 field goals and all 39 extra points in nine regular-season games. The 23-year-old was perfect during a three-game playoff run in which he knocked in six field goals and nine PATs.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/2/26
Monday’s lone minor move from around the NFL…
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: DE Ta’Quon Graham
Graham, a 2021 fifth-round pick from Texas, spent his first four-plus seasons in Atlanta. He amassed 51 appearances and 16 starts with the Falcons before they released him last November. During a career year in 2023, Graham started in nine of 11 games, registered a 41.98% defensive snap share, and totaled 34 tackles and eight QB hits. Graham closed out his Falcons tenure with four tackles in two games last year. A couple days after Atlanta parted with Graham, he joined Philadelphia’s practice squad. The 27-year-old did not see any game action with the Eagles, but perhaps that will change in 2026.
Texans To Release S Jimmie Ward
Safety Jimmie Ward has played his last down with the Texans. The team plans to release Ward, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 reports. The 34-year-old will contemplate retirement, Wilson adds.
After spending the first nine seasons of his career in San Francisco, Ward joined Houston on a two-year, $13MM pact in March 2023. The move reunited Ward with Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans, who was the 49ers’ defensive coordinator from 2021-22.
Ward was a full-time starter in each of his first two years with the Texans, but his long-running injury troubles transferred to Houston. He logged just one full season in San Francisco and missed between one and nine games in the other eight years.
Ward went on to post back-to-back 10-game seasons with the Texans. Hip and hamstring problems limited Ward in 2023, and groin and foot issues shelved him the next season.
As Ward was recovering from two foot surgeries last offseason, he was arrested twice – first in June on an assault family violence impeding breath/circulation charge and again in August for violating his bail by consuming alcohol. The league moved Ward from the reserve/PUP list to the commissioner’s exempt list in late August. Ward’s case went before a grand jury in September, but the prosecution did not proceed with felony domestic violence charges. He then came off the commissioner’s exempt list. There was optimism at the time that Ward would play in 2025, but he stayed on the reserve/PUP list all season.
Ward would have been due a $2.75MM base salary had the Texans gone forward with him next season. In releasing Ward, the Texans will save $750K while taking on $2MM in dead money. Houston is roughly $8.6MM over the cap as of now.
Tremaine Edmunds Generating Trade Interest; Titans, Raiders, Giants Potential Suitors?
The Bears granted linebacker Tremaine Edmunds permission to seek a trade last week. It appears a deal has a realistic chance to come to fruition. Edmunds has “strong trade value,” Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports. The Titans, Raiders and Giants all “like” the eight-year veteran, according to Fowler.
[RELATED: Bears Offseason Outlook]
Edmunds entered the NFL as the 16th overall pick of the Bills in 2018. As a 20-year-old rookie, Edmunds piled up 121 tackles, 12 passes defensed, two sacks, two forced fumbles and two interceptions over 15 games as a full-time starter. That was the first in a long line of productive seasons for Edmunds, who has started for his entire career.
Now a two-time Pro Bowler, the 27-year-old Edmunds has exceeded 100 tackles in every one of his seasons. He has also notched 59 PDs, 14 picks and 8.5 sacks.
Edmunds may be coming off his final season in Chicago, which took him from Buffalo on a four-year, $72MM offer with $50MM guaranteed in March 2023. At the time, it was the largest four-year deal ever given to an off-ball linebacker. Edmunds stepped in for Roquan Smith, whom the Bears traded to the Ravens during the previous season.
Aside from full campaigns in 2019 and ’24, Edmunds has missed at least some time in every season. While Edmunds sat out a career-worst four games as a result of a groin injury in 2025, he still managed 112 tackles, nine PDs and four INTs. Pro Football Focus rated Edmunds 35th among 88 qualifying players at his position.
Edmunds’ loss would create a hole in the Bears’ defense next to T.J. Edwards. Noah Sewell is a potential in-house replacement, but D’Marco Jackson is a pending free agent. Whether via trade or release, escaping the last season of Edmunds’ contract would be favorable to Chicago’s cap situation. As things stand, the Bears are approximately $6.48MM in the red. Getting rid of Edmunds before June 1 would free up $15MM at the cost of just $2.44MM in dead money. If Edmunds is off the Bears’ roster by Day 5 of the league year, they’ll avoid paying him a $1MM roster bonus.
As for potential suitors, the Titans and Raiders rank top two in the league in spending space. Taking on Edmunds’ money would not be a problem for either. The Giants are only around $2.78MM under the cap, on the other hand.
Edmunds would already be the second significant offseason trade acquisition for the Titans, who sent defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat to the Jets for defensive end Jermaine Johnson last week. Edmunds and Johnson would give recently hired head coach Robert Saleh two new defensive starters right off the bat.
The Raiders are facing the departure of starting middle linebacker Elandon Roberts to free agency. Fellow LBs Devin White and Jamal Adams are also on track to reach the open market. Meanwhile, the Giants may lose pending free agent Micah McFadden, who suffered a season-ending foot injury in Week 1 last season. Bobby Okereke has been a full-time starter for the Giants for three years, but he may end up a cap casualty this offseason. If that happens, perhaps Edmunds will slide in as his replacement.