Pro Football Rumors
While a member of the Colts in 2025, right tackle Braden Smith went on season-ending IR with neck and head injuries in mid-December. Now, as he prepares to enter the first season of a two-year, $25MM contract with the Texans, Smith is on the mend from neck surgery, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 reports.
Smith was limited during the spring, but the 6-foot-6, 312-pounder is “tracking toward a full recovery for training camp,” according to Wilson. A full-time starter throughout his eight-year run in Indianapolis, Smith is expected to serve as the Texans’ No. 1 right tackle if healthy. If not, the Texans retained Trent Brown on a one-year, $7MM deal in free agency, giving them established insurance at the position.
Availability has not been a given for Smith, whose lone full season came back in 2019. Smith temporarily became the game’s highest-paid right tackle in July 2021, when the Colts handed him a four-year, $72MM contract extension. But the former second-rounder from Auburn went on to amass 23 absences over the next half-decade, including four in 2025.
Over 13 appearances in his final year with the Colts, Smith yelded just one sack. Unsurprisingly, Pro Football Focus gave him a solid grade as a pass blocker (71.9). However, in PFF’s estimation, he struggled in the running game (58.0). Overall, the outlet ranked Smith a below-average 48th out of 84 qualified tackles.
Adding Smith and re-signing Brown were among several offseason moves the Texans made to address their offensive line. It began when they traded guard/tackle Tytus Howard to Cleveland in early March. General manager Nick Caserio then re-signed right guard Ed Ingram (three years, $37.5MM) and brought in Wyatt Teller (two years, $16MM) in free agency. Teller was a stalwart right guard with the Browns from 2019-25, but he could start on the left side in Houston. First-round rookie Keylan Rutledge may also be an option at left guard, though that will depend on whether he beats out Jake Andrews for the starting center job.
