The Detroit Lions moved on from running back David Montgomery on Monday, trading him to the Houston Texans. In return, the Lions received offensive lineman Juice Scruggs, a fourth-rounder, and a seventh-rounder.
While it looks like Scruggs will be an option at center for Detroit, the Lions will need to find a replacement for Montgomery. Interestingly, an ideal replacement option will be available when the tampering period opens on Monday: pending Atlanta Falcons free agent RB Tyler Allgeier.
Free Agent RB Tyler Allgeier Could Help Lions Replace David Montgomery
Allgeier has spent the past four seasons with the Falcons and gave them a quality option in the backfield. In 67 career games (12 starts), he had 676 carries for 2,876 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns. He also reeled in 61 catches for 516 receiving yards and another two receiving scores.
Allgeier is a nice one-cut, instinctive runner who's at his best when he's running downhill. That's a similar role to the one that Montgomery had. Additionally, Allgeier is listed at 5'10", 225 pounds, with Montgomery coming in at 5'11", 230 pounds.
They are alike in stature, play style, and the role they occupy within an offense. That's huge, as the Lions already have a home-run, speedy threat in Jahmyr Gibbs. Having that bruiser in the backfield for Detroit is huge, and the BYU product seems like the logical addition.
Over the last two seasons, Allgeier was Bijan Robinson's backup and may look for a larger role. Even if he wouldn't be the RB1 in Detroit, history has shown that the Lions could find a way to make sure their top two running backs get the ball.
During Montgomery's three-year tenure with the Lions, he averaged 187 carries per season. Meanwhile, Allgeier averaged 169 carries per season with the Falcons from 2022 to 2025. He would be going to a better offense, which would lead to better opportunities with the ball.
Considering that Detroit has Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, and Sam LaPorta catching passes, Allgeier would see lighter boxes compared to his time in Atlanta.
Spotrac projects that Allgeier will sign a three-year, $17 million deal, paying him $5.7 million per season. That's an inexpensive deal and would put him in the 20th-22nd range in terms of highest-paid running backs.
There's a chance that Allgeier wants to be a top running back for someone, but if the Lions put on a full-court press to land him, it'll be hard for him to turn away. This would be a landing spot that benefits both sides, and Allgeier would step in to be Montgomery 2.0 in the Motor City.