The Detroit Lions are officially in the market for an RB2 this offseason after trading standout running back David Montgomery to the Houston Texans earlier this week in exchange for OL Juice Scruggs and future draft compensation.
In a perfect world, the Lions would’ve loved to keep Sonic (Jahmyr Gibbs) and Knuckles (David Montgomery) together, especially with Drew Petzing becoming the new offensive coordinator, as he helped deploy a strong rushing attack for two years in Arizona.
However, that’s not the scenario that Detroit faces with free agency on the horizon. They’ll either try to fill this void by signing a veteran to a one-year deal or taking a running back in the 2026 NFL draft. If the Lions elect to go the free agency route, Sean Tucker could be a cheap and intriguing option for Detroit.
On Wednesday, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that the Buccaneers did not extend Tucker a restricted tender, which will allow him to become an unrestricted free agent. The 24-year-old running back has spent the last three seasons with the Tampa Buccaneers after going undrafted in 2023, so hard work shouldn't be a concern for Brad Holmes and company, as the rusher had to scratch and claw his way into a comfortable spot in the NFL to begin with.
Sean Tucker Is Just One Promising Option for Detroit’s Backfield
If the Lions were to sign Tucker to a cheap one-year deal, it wouldn’t stop them from addressing the position again in the NFL draft, which would instantly put Sione Vaki on the chopping block, as he hasn’t been a factor on offense in his two years in the Motor City.
Meanwhile, Tucker has seen his offensive playing time increase over the last three years. This past season, the former Syracuse standout recorded a career-high 320 yards on 86 carries and seven rushing touchdowns.
Six of Tucker’s seven touchdowns came inside the redzone, which could pique Detroit’s interest, especially if they’re looking for a Jamaal Williams 2.0. The 5-foot-10, 205-pound running back had three games in 2025 with 10 or more carries, including a breakout performance against the Buffalo Bills. Despite the sample size being smaller than one would prefer, the proof is in the pudding with what
In that game against the Bills, Tucker ripped off 106 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries, along with two receptions (two targets) for 34 yards and a touchdown, his only receiving score of the year. That isn’t too shabby for an RB who averaged 3.7 yards per carry in 2025.
Tucker doesn’t have game-breaking speed like Gibbs, but he has above-average acceleration, which helps him explode through a lane. He also has good vision. Coming out of Syracuse for the 2023 draft, Tucker was considered a reliable pass catcher out of the backfield, as he had 64 receptions for 616 yards and four touchdowns during his time with the Orange.
He hasn’t had as many chances in the passing game to start his NFL career (19 receptions for 152 yards and 2 TDs), but that’s something the Lions could expand on. Montgomery averaged 25.3 receptions per season during his time in Detroit. The Lions could replace Montgomery’s production with more targets for Isaac TeSlaa and Gibbs, but they could also give those to whoever the RB2 is.
Did we also mention that Tucker can also be used on special teams? Yeah, he can do that too, adding to the reasons to give him a hard look this offseason. Over the last two seasons, the young running back has averaged 24.6 yards per kick return. It’s nothing earth-shattering, but it’s another way for him to make an impact.
Nonetheless, it will be interesting to see what direction the Lions ultimately go to fill the RB2 role behind Gibbs. It won’t be a simple answer, but Detroit should have several options at its disposal.