The Texans’ offensive line is going to draw plenty of attention once training camp gets rolling, and right tackle may be the spot that tells the clearest story.
Houston spent the offseason trying to clean up a unit that was once again below average last year in front of C.J. Stroud and in the run game. The front office brought in help with the idea of getting the protection right in 2026, but the right side still looks like a genuine battle.
On paper, Braden Smith looks like the favorite. Houston signed him earlier this offseason to a two-year, $20 million deal, banking on a veteran tackle with more than 100 NFL starts who has shown he can be a solid run blocker and an above-average player at his best in Indianapolis.
But the Texans’ spring work changed the conversation. Smith was still coming back from neck surgery, and that opened the door for Trent Brown to take every first-team rep at right tackle during OTAs and minicamp.
That matters, because Brown didn’t just fill in last season - he helped Houston win.
When Brown started at right tackle in the regular season, the Texans went 7-0. He also started in the Wild Card win over the Pittsburgh Steelers before getting hurt and missing the next game against the New England Patriots.
His numbers were steady over those seven regular-season games: five penalties, 11 total pressures allowed, and one sack. Pro Football Focus ranked him 40th among 89 eligible tackles with a 68.6 grade, and he landed in the top 30 in run blocking. Both marks were better than Smith’s production in Indianapolis last season.
That’s why Brown has a real argument here. The Texans already know what the offense looked like with him on the right side, and the results were good. He also has the edge in time spent with Houston, a bigger frame for the position, and a salary that isn’t far off in practical terms from Smith’s, even if the contracts say otherwise.
None of that means Smith is out of the picture. If he’s healthy in camp, he still sounds like the slight favorite to win the job. But this isn’t a token competition, and it would be a mistake to treat Brown like a mere backup option.
If he’s healthy and plays better in camp, Houston has every reason to stick with what worked.
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