The Detroit Lions are looking to put their 2025 woes behind them. With John Morton no longer in the building and Drew Petzing taking the reins as offensive coordinator, Dan Campbell's team will look to recover some of the explosiveness of the Ben Johnson era.
Of course, the best way to do so will be to re-establish the running game. They have a true superstar in Jahmyr Gibbs, and now that he's about to secure a contract extension, the bar will be even higher for the speedster.
However, as great as Gibbs is, he was even more efficient when the Lions also relied on David Montgomery. That's why, now that they've replaced him with Isiah Pacheco, there are some legitimate concerns about whether the Lions' once-great running game will be back.
With that in mind, FanSided's Jake Beckman predicted the Lions would make a run at another running back. In his latest column, he made a case for them to acquire Carolina Panthers star Chuba Hubbard.
Lions could target Chuba Hubbard in a trade
"They traded Montgomery to the Texans this offseason and replaced him in free agency with the husk of Isiah Pacheco. That’s not remotely close to a one-for-one replacement," Beckman wrote. "If they wanted to get greedy and make sure they really crushed everything, they could try to get Chuba Hubbard from Carolina."
Of course, this will be way easier said than done. Hubbard is projected to start for Dave Canales' team, and starting-caliber running backs often go at a high price. That said, the Lions can't leave a stone unturned to return to the top of the division.
Pacheco used to be a feel-good story as a former late-round pick turned starter for a Super Bowl team. Then, injuries took a toll on his explosiveness and efficiency, and his lack of vision has him constantly running into the pressure rather than away from it.
The former Kansas City Chiefs star averaged just 3.9 yards per carry in 2025 and 3.7 in 2024. He struggled to stay on the field, missing 14 of 34 potential games over that span and failing to reach 500 rushing yards. He looks more like a one-year wonder than a reliable option, even if he's a backup.
The Lions need someone to pound his way through the ground and wear out the opposing defense to make room for Gibbs' explosiveness and elusiveness. That formula worked like a charm with Montgomery by his side, and it could be as effective with Hubbard. It won't be easy, and they might have to wait until the trade deadline to see if the Panthers struggle and go through a panic sale, but this move would make perfect sense for the Lions.
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