The Detroit Lions have several key decisions to make this offseason and that includes the future of running back David Montgomery. One of the most popular players on the team, Montgomery’s performance declined in 2025 and it opened the door to discussions about his contract.
With an $8.3 million cap hit, the Lions are likely considering asking Montgomery to take a pay cut to stay in Detroit. But it’s a complicated decision considering the 28-year-old still has gas left in the tank and could be paid handsomely by a team looking for an RB1 in free agency.
Fortunately for the Lions, they may have been handed a trump card over the weekend. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Dallas Cowboys have agreed to a three-year, $24 million contract extension with running back Javonte Williams. The deal also includes $16 million guaranteed, making Williams the first player to cash in ahead of a deep free agent market.
The contract takes a top running back option off the board and may convince Montgomery to stay in Detroit at least for another season.
Javonte Williams’s Contract Could Help Keep David Montgomery with Lions in 2026
Montgomery wasn’t terrible for the Lions last season, but he was a step behind his previous two seasons in Detroit. After running for 1,015 yards and 13 touchdowns during the 2023 season and 775 yards with 12 touchdowns in 2024, Montgomery slipped to 716 yards and eight touchdowns last season. There were some outside reasons for the lack of statistical production including former offensive coordinator John Morton’s play calling. But Montgomery also declined in success rate and yards after contact, leading some to questions as he enters his age-29 season.
Jahmyr Gibbs told reporters earlier this month that “it’s ultimately up to [Montgomery]” when discussing his return earlier this month and Gibbs’s contract extension, which could be worth more than $20 million per season, could also push Montgomery out the door.
But Williams’s contract extension could push the chips back into Detroit’s favor. Williams had a better season than Montgomery last year, running for 1,201 yards and 11 touchdowns. But his annual average value of $8 million comes in shy of Montgomery’s 2026 cap hit.
Javonte Williams | David Montgomery | |
|---|---|---|
Games | 16 | 17 |
Rushing Yards | 1,201 | 716 |
Yards Per Attempt | 4.8 | 4.5 |
Rushing TD | 11 | 8 |
Receptions | 35 | 24 |
Receiving Yards | 137 | 192 |
Receiving TD | 2 | 0 |
Success Rate | 56.3% | 48.1% |
Yards After Contact | 3.56 | 3.17 |
With Williams also being two years younger than Montgomery, it could be a sign that the grass may not be greener if Montgomery leaves Detroit. Over The Cap’s $2.9 million valuation for Mongtomery’s performance may also be a factor and it might make more sense just to stick with the Lions if he’s going to have to take a pay cut regardless of where he ends up.
For the Lions, this would scratch one more thing off their offseason to-do list and allow them to focus their efforts on the offensive and defensive lines. It could also help them move on to figuring out Gibbs’s extension and restructure other contracts to create the cap space needed to execute their plans in free agency.
Some of those things could get done without a resolution on Montgomery’s status. But Williams’ signing was a step in the right direction that could help Detroit get an early win in an important offseason.