The Seattle Seahawks will have a lot of eyes on them this offseason with what they do coming off winning Super Bowl 60. But, before much excitement could brew, the Seahawks were dealt some bad news as the Detroit Lions traded David Montgomery to the Houston Texans.

Cap Constraints Limit Seahawks’ Options

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Lions are trading Montgomery to the Texans for center Juice Scruggs, a fourth-round pick, and a 2027 seventh-round pick. Montgomery was one of the best running backs available this offseason, and before free agency even opened up, the Seahawks lost one of their top options if Kenneth Walker III leaves in free agency.

As ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler noted the day before this deal was made, the Seahawks ‘made sense’ as a landing spot for Montgomery if they wound up losing Walker this offseason. With the vibe shifting towards a split between Walker and the Seahawks, being able to land someone as good as Montgomery would’ve been great for Seattle.

The 28-year-old Lions running back ran for 716 yards and eight touchdowns on just 158 carries last season. He’s run for 6,115 yards in his seven-year NFL career, scoring 59 touchdowns on the ground. He also has 1,890 receiving yards and four TDs on 231 catches.

Financial Advantages of Montgomery

One of the big reasons why Montgomery would’ve been a great option for Seattle is that he’s only accounting for $6 million against the cap in 2026. With Walker set to earn over $10 million, that would be at least $4 million saved in cap space.

Also, Montgomery is under contract in 2027 on a $9 million deal, none of which is guaranteed, so the Seahawks could cut him and save all $9 million next offseason if they did acquire him. However, with the Lions set to trade him to the Texans, the Seahawks are losing out on a top replacement for Walker.

The Seahawks have other options, but none would’ve been as good as Montgomery. The team is currently evaluating its roster with a focus on maintaining financial flexibility, especially as they prepare for the 2025 season.

What Analysts Say

Analysts have noted that the Seahawks’ cap situation is one of the most complex in the league this offseason. With the franchise tag on Walker III, the team is locked into a significant financial commitment, which limits their ability to pursue other high-value free agents.

‘This trade removes one of the most viable options for Seattle,’ said one NFL analyst. ‘Montgomery’s contract structure would have provided a unique balance of performance and cost efficiency, which is rare in today’s NFL.’

The Seahawks are now looking at other running back options, but none carry the same combination of experience and cap flexibility as Montgomery. The team is expected to make a decision on Walker III in the coming weeks, which could impact their approach to free agency.

With the trade now complete, the Seahawks’ window for acquiring a high-impact running back has narrowed. The team has until the start of free agency to finalize its plans, but the loss of Montgomery is a setback in their pursuit of a balanced offense.