The Houston Texans had at least a few teams sniffing around veteran right tackle Braden Smith before the trade deadline, but nothing ever crossed the finish line.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that Smith came up as a name to watch in recent days, with clubs checking in on Houston to see whether a deal might be possible. As Fowler put it, "Right tackle Braden Smith was a trade candidate in recent days.
He's out of the rotation in Houston. A handful of teams showed interest in a potential deal, but nothing materialized."
That interest makes sense. Smith has plenty of starting experience, and he spent the early part of his NFL career with the Indianapolis Colts before landing in Houston. For teams dealing with injuries or shaky play up front, a veteran tackle with AFC South familiarity is the kind of piece that can draw attention quickly.
Houston, though, chose to keep him. The Texans’ decision says plenty about where things stand along the offensive line: Smith has slipped out of the rotation, but the team still appears to value the security of having him around. In a long season, depth can turn from luxury to necessity in a hurry.
There was also a clear business angle here. If Smith isn’t in the Texans’ plans going forward, moving him would have given Houston a chance to collect draft capital instead of letting a veteran sit outside the lineup. That possibility was enough for teams to call, but not enough to get a deal done.
For now, Smith stays put in Houston. The Texans have bigger concerns as they push toward the postseason and try to climb the AFC standings, but this is one roster decision worth keeping in mind. If his role doesn’t change, the offseason could bring another round of questions.
In Other News...
Texans Leave A Risky Backfield Question Hanging Over Playoff Push
The Texans stayed quiet at the 2026 NFL trade deadline, even with their backfield under obvious strain. David Montgomery has been sidelined by a groin injury and is considered week-to-week, while Woody Marks has been absorbing a heavy workload as Houston tries to keep its offense on schedule down the stretch.
Houstons decision not to add a running back leaves the team leaning on Montgomerys recovery and Marks ability to hold up to the load. For a club pushing toward the playoffs, it is a calculated gamble, one that puts a lot of pressure on the current group to stay healthy and productive without any late help coming in. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Get A Deshaun Watson Reminder Right Before Browns Visit
The Browns are bringing Deshaun Watson back into the starting lineup just in time for their Nov. 15 meeting with Houston, a reminder of how much this matchup still carries for Texans fans. Watson had been sidelined in concussion protocol, and while rookie backup Shedeur Sanders got the previous start and played well, Cleveland is handing the offense back to the veteran for the trip.
For Houston, it adds another layer to a game that already had plenty of attention attached to it. Watsons return means the Texans will be seeing a familiar face under center again, and it comes with the kind of storyline that tends to follow him wherever he goes. The Browns have made their decision, and now the focus shifts to how Houston handles one more chapter in a long-running connection. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Stars Spent Their Off Day Doing Something Houston Will Love
An off day in Week 9 turned into a community day for several Texans, who spent part of their break giving back across Houston. In partnership with Kroger, the team helped distribute 1,000 Thanksgiving meals, with C.J. Stroud, Nico Collins, Henry Tootoo and DeMeco Ryans among those taking part in the effort.
Will Anderson Jr. also stayed busy, starting with a visit to Joint Reserve Base Ellington before later showing up at the Academy Snow Day event. It was the kind of behind-the-scenes community work that tends to resonate around Houston, especially when players are out front and interacting with fans and military personnel instead of resting up for the next game. [Read more 🡒]