The Detroit Lions may be weeks away from making an investment in running back Jahmyr Gibbs that figures to spell the end for David Montgomery's time in the Motor City.
Though Gibbs has a fifth-year team option for the 2027 season, it's possible Brad Holmes and Co. invest in him as soon as possible. Right now, his asking price on his first contract extension looks astronomical.
Per ESPN's Eric Woodyard, "The Lions have signed nine players to contracts worth a total of nearly $1 billion since spring 2024, and the organization has the flexibility to hold off on Gibbs' free agency longer with his fifth-year option. Gibbs will likely aim to become the highest-paid running back in league history, besting the $20.6M annual salary of the Philadelphia Eagles' Saquon Barkley, who signed a two-year, $41.2 million extension last March that included $36 million in guarantees and the chance to earn an additional $15 million in incentives and escalators."
Meanwhile, ESPN's Dan Graziano projected that Gibbs lands a four-year, $80 million deal, including $30 million fully guaranteed at signing. That's right in line with what Woodyard suggested as well.
If Gibbs gets a Saquon Barley-esque contract ASAP, Montgomery becomes an immediate cut candidate. No questions asked. With an $8.37 million cap hit for the 2026 season and a $10.245 million cap hit for the 2027 season, there's simply no way Detroit is trying up all its money on two running backs.
Jahmyr Gibbs Wants David Montgomery Back, Claims it's Up to Him
Gibbs weighed in on Montgomery's free agency, claiming that he wants to see the RB room remain the same.
"Of course I want David (Montgomery) back," fellow Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs said on Monday, via Detroit Free Press' David Birkett. "The whole team would want David back, but it’s ultimately up to him."
Gibbs probably knows the choice is not completely up to Montgomery. While he has the chance to restructure his deal, it's also on the Lions to offer him a respectable salary. It's always tough negotiating that when there's a clearly superior and younger option who's continuing to eat into his snap-count.
Was it a loaded statement from Gibbs, since he's the one with the leverage whose salary can directly lead to Montgomery's exit? You can look into that statement however you see fit.
Something has to give in the Lions' backfield, though. Losing Gibbs is not an option, while Montgomery's evaluation of his worth to Detroit could determine whether his exit is an amicable one, or if there are hurt feelings from how contract negotiations went. This will be an interesting storyline to follow for the Lions in the coming weeks.