This is the second installment of a multi-part series previewing the 2026 NFL free agency period for the Detroit Lions. Teams and agents can legally begin negotiating contracts at noon on Monday, March 9, and new contracts can be signed when the new league year begins at 4 p.m. Wednesday, March 11. Today’s preview: Running back.
More free agency previews: Quarterback.
Running back
Expected on the 90-man roster: Jahmyr Gibbs, Sione Vaki, Jacob Saylors, Jabari Small, Kye Robichaux
Pending free agents: N/A
The Lions on Monday made a significant alteration to their situation at running back, agreeing to trade David Montgomery to the Houston Texans for two draft picks and interior offensive lineman Juice Scruggs. Compensation aside (it’s a strong haul for a running back who turns 29 years old in June), the deal creates an immediate hole for the Lions to fill. Jahmyr Gibbs is sure to receive the vast majority of reps, but he needs a new complementary partner after running alongside Montgomery for the last three seasons.
Sione Vaki, a fourth-round draft pick in 2024, should be given a look. But he’s only received seven carries and 30 snaps on offense through his first two seasons, with his biggest impact coming on special teams. Vaki’s development was always going to take some time after transitioning from the defensive side (he mostly played safety at Utah), but his lack of professional experience makes him a uncertain option.
Similar things can be said about Jacob Saylors, who signed with the Lions in July and was promoted to the active roster in September. Saylors went undrafted in 2023 and has only two career rush attempts, both coming last season; he made his mark in 2025 with 33 kickoff returns for 897 yards.
Jabari Small was on Detroit’s practice squad at season’s end and was signed to a futures contract shortly after the 2025 campaign concluded. Kye Robichaux inked a deal with the Lions as an undrafted free agent but was injured during training camp and placed on injured reserve, ending his rookie season. The team never announced an injury settlement.
Best available free agents
Breece Hall, Kenneth Walker III, Travis Etienne Jr., Rico Dowdle, Tyler Allgeier, Isiah Pacheco, J.K. Dobbins, Rachaad White, Nick Chubb, Brian Robinson Jr., Kenneth Gainwell, Michael Carter, Najee Harris, Jeremy McNichols, Austin Ekeler
With a mammoth extension for Gibbs potentially on the way this offseason, it’s safe to assume the Lions want to get cheaper at the spot behind him. Maybe Montgomery would still be in Detroit if he wasn’t irritated by his diminished role, but there’s no doubt the Lions are feeling some level of relief by moving off his future cap hits in 2026 ($6 million) and 2027 ($9 million). With that in mind, we’re removing Breece Hall (New York Jets), Kenneth Walker III (Seattle Seahawks) and Travis Etienne Jr. (Jacksonville Jaguars) from consideration.
Rico Dowdle (Carolina Panthers) and Tyler Allgeier (Atlanta Falcons) also project to cost notable resources, but we won’t completely rule them out. Allgeier has spent the last three seasons as Bijan Robinson’s backup, a similar role to what Montgomery did in Detroit.
It’ll be interesting to see how the market develops for Isiah Pacheco (Kansas City Chiefs), who posted more than 2,000 yards from scrimmage in his first two seasons but had that production essentially halved in his following couple of years.
The Lions lost some power with Montgomery’s exit. Kenneth Gainwell (Pittsburgh Steelers), Austin Ekeler (Washington Commanders) and Jeremy McNichols (Washington Commanders) aren’t exactly known for being bruisers, but more for their elusive nature and efforts as receivers out of the backfield.
That leaves us with six more candidates, in J.K. Dobbins (Denver Broncos), Rachaad White (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), Nick Chubb (Houston Texans), Brian Robinson Jr. (San Francisco 49ers), Michael Carter (Arizona Cardinals) and Najee Harris (Los Angeles Chargers). Dobbins was productive in 2025, totaling 809 yards from scrimmage over 10 appearances before a Lisfranc injury ended his season. Dobbins has never played a full season since entering the NFL in 2020, and he’s made 13 or more appearances only once since 2021.
Harris is coming off a torn Achilles he suffered in September.
White ranked 39th in the NFL last season in missed tackles forced as a runner (25), and he was 36th in average yards after contact per rush (2.95) among qualified running backs, according to Pro Football Focus. Robinson ranked 43rd (22) and 32nd (3.03), respectively, while Chubb was 35th (28) and 51st (2.65). Carter, who was with new Lions offensive coordinator Drew Petzing in Arizona, was 65th (nine) and 61st (2.36).
For context, Montgomery forced 29 missed tackles (34th) and averaged 3.17 yards after contact (21st).
What’s the move?
If the Lions are willing to allocate the funds, Dowdle (market value of $6.5 million, according to Spotrac) or Allgeier ($5.7 million) could come in and be expected to give Detroit close to what Montgomery provided.
Moving to the following tier, White recorded an EPA per rush in 2025 (+0.08) that ranked second among qualified running backs, according to Next Gen Stats. The question with White is whether he’d be fine with again being the second option in the backfield, as Bucky Irving led the Buccaneers in carries over the last two seasons.
Chubb wasn’t as efficient as White, but he has shown a higher ceiling (5,345 rushing yards from 2019-22) and made 15 appearances last season after a serious knee injury cost him most of 2023 and 2024. Chubb averaged 4.1 yards per carry in 2025.
If Lions GM Brad Holmes is willing to look past injuries, Dobbins or Harris could be had without breaking the bank.
Other running backs worth considering who aren’t expected to require as much spending include Emari Demercado (Arizona Cardinals), Khalil Herbert (New York Jets) and A.J. Dillon (Philadelphia Eagles), among others.
He’s not yet a free agent, but the Cardinals could potentially release James Conner, who would be a slam dunk for the Lions. Conner is coming off a foot injury that required surgery, but Petzing had Conner rolling with consecutive 1,000-yard season from 2023-24. The fit would be ideal.
rsilva@detroitnews.com
@rich_silva18
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Free agency preview: How Lions can try replacing David Montgomery
Reporting by Richard Silva, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
