The Houston Texans have a lot to sort out once training camp opens, but one of the most important decisions might be hiding in plain sight at right tackle.
That spot has flown a little under the radar compared with the bigger camp storylines, yet it could end up shaping how the offense functions in 2026. Houston’s options appear to be down to two veterans: Trent Brown, who held the job last year, and Braden Smith, the offseason addition brought in to compete for the same role.
Blake Fisher could technically enter the conversation, but the 2024 second-round pick still has plenty to prove just to lock down a roster spot. For now, this looks like a straight two-man fight.
There’s a case for both players. Brown has already shown he can handle the job on the right side, while Smith arrives with a strong resume and a fresh contract that suggests the Texans believe he can be a steady answer. Houston gave Smith a two-year, $20 million deal, and that kind of investment usually comes with expectations.
Still, Smith hasn’t taken part in a full team practice during OTAs or minicamp. He has been on the field in a limited capacity while recovering from the neck injury he dealt with last season, and that has left Brown as the player getting the steady reps at right tackle throughout the offseason program.
That doesn’t settle anything, especially this early. OTA work only tells you so much, and without pads or live contact, the line picture stays cloudy. But it does offer a hint about where Houston is right now.
Brown is very much in the mix. The Texans brought him back on a one-year, $7 million deal, and the value is different from Smith’s, but the fit is familiar. Houston went 7-0 last season with Brown starting at right tackle next to Ed Ingram, and that kind of continuity has real appeal.
So this battle may come down to a simple question: ceiling or continuity?
Smith could offer the steadier run-blocking presence the Texans want if they’re planning to lean more heavily on the ground game behind David Montgomery. Brown, meanwhile, gives Houston a known quantity on a line that already worked with him in place.
Health is part of the equation too. Both players have dealt with injuries that have interrupted their careers, and one setback in camp could easily tilt the competition.
For a Texans offense that has lived and died with the state of its line, the right tackle decision matters. The best five up front will go a long way toward determining how far this group can go, both in the run game and in what C.J. Stroud can do in year four.
Training camp will provide the real answer, but right tackle is one of the spots worth watching closely when the Texans return to the field in late July.
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