Lions draft future David Montgomery replacement in 40-TD running back

The Detroit Lions sport one of the best running back duos in the NFL entering the 2025 season with Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, who are a perfect complement for one another.

Gibbs offers an explosive weapon out of the backfield that can contribute in the passing game, while Montgomery is more of a bruiser who does the dirty work between the tackles and in short-yardage situations, especially at the goal line.

While Montgomery is under contract through the 2027 season, it's not outlandish to think the Lions could consider cutting ties with the veteran running back in the next few years to save some money as the team prepares to hand out big extensions to key players. Detroit has an out in Montgomery's deal as early as 2026.

With that in mind, Pro Football Focus' Josh Liskiewitz has the Lions taking running back Ollie Gordon out of Oklahoma State with the No. 228 overall pick (Round 7) of his mock draft.

Seeing Gordon available this late in the draft is surprising considering most experts have him as a Day 2 or early Day 3 pick. As a result, the Lions might be hard-pressed to pass up on Gordon in this spot, even with their ideal running back situation.

Adding Gordon would provide a possible future replacement for Montgomery if the Lions decide to cut ties in the next few years, as his game closely mirrors Montgomery's.

At 6-foot and 226 pounds, Gordon would be a fantastic complement to Gibbs with his strong running style, but he also offers some explosiveness once he gets going and can catch passes out of the backfield.

Gordon's best collegiate season came in 2023, when he finished with 1,732 yards and 21 touchdowns on the ground. In all, he finished his career at Oklahoma State with 2,920 rushing yards, 585 receiving yards and 40 total touchdowns, although Gordon saw a dip in production in 2024 with 880 rushing yards.

With the Lions meeting with running backs during the pre-draft process, including Arizona State's Cam Skattebo, it's pretty clear that the team is at considering taking a running back. Whether Gordon is there in the seventh round for them remains to be seen, but don't be surprised if the Lions take a running back on Day 2 or 3.