The Texans spent the offseason trying to patch a problem that never really went away: the offensive line still needed help. That’s why Braden Smith landed in Houston on a two-year, $20 million deal, and why he checks in at No. 18 in this preseason ranking of the team’s top 25 players for 2026.
Smith arrives with the kind of resume the Texans were looking for. He’s got 105 starts across eight pro seasons, and even in what was described as a down year, he still allowed only one sack and six pressures in 13 games.
The appeal is easy to see. He brings experience, he’s been a plus in the run game, and Houston needed a veteran tackle who could help steady things on the edge.
That said, the fit comes with real uncertainty. Smith’s last three seasons have been shaped by availability problems tied to both injury and mental health battles, and he has played in just 35 of his available 51 games since 2023.
His most recent season ended on injured reserve because of a neck injury. Last year, he was also ranked 50th out of 89 tackles by PFF.
The Texans have tried to protect themselves against that risk. Trent Brown is there as the fallback plan, and Houston has already shown confidence in him at right tackle. He went 7-0 in the regular season while playing that spot, so if Smith’s issues flare up again, Brown can step in.
For now, though, Smith should have the inside track to start at right tackle if he’s healthy when camp opens. There’s also a wrinkle here: Smith did not take part in team drills during OTAs and minicamp, which left Brown handling the reps at right tackle.
Still, Houston made a significant investment in Smith, and that means he’ll get his chance later this month. If he settles in and gives the Texans the stability they were chasing, he could become a major piece on the line opposite Aireontae Ersery and help both the run game and C.J. Stroud.
If it clicks, Smith could wind up as one of the most impactful additions the Texans made this offseason. If it doesn’t, or if the injury problems return, Houston may have to lean on Brown sooner than planned. Either way, the Texans saw enough value to make the move, and that alone makes Smith a reasonable top-20 pick on this list.
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Texans Face A Franchise Defining Contract Question Around C.J. Stroud
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For Nick Caserio, the challenge is not simply rewarding good players, but deciding which ones fit the franchises bigger financial picture and championship timeline. A quarterback deal can reshape everything around him, and the Texans will also have to weigh how much they want to invest at other spots as those next contract decisions come due, making this one of the defining management tests of the coming seasons. [Read more 🡒]