HOUSTON – Braden Smith contemplated everything and everyone involved as he reflected on an important life decision.
Where would he and his family, his wife, Courtney, and their son go next after eight successful years with the Indianapolis Colts?
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Ultimately, the answer came through prayer and careful consideration of football factors and the negotiating skills of his agent, Michael Perrett.
The veteran right offensive tackle decided to join the Texans, a longtime AFC South rival, via a two-year, $25 million maximum value contract that included $13.5 million guaranteed with an $8.5 million signing bonus.
That’s how the Texans added a major cornerstone to their overhauled offensive line through free agency.
‘There’s a lot that goes into it," Smith told KPRC 2 in a virtual interview after agreeing to terms this week. “Ultimately it’s just kind of wanting to go to a team and be able to compete, want to be able to help them. I’m laughing because I’m like thinking of my wife, ‘Braden, can we please go somewhere that’s warm?’
“It just felt like the right fit, like there was definitely a feeling behind it. From a faith standpoint, I feel like God places us where he needs us and feel like Houston’s been on the mind for a while now. Ultimately, it happened the way that it needed to happen and I feel good about it.”
After trading versatile offensive lineman Tytus Howard to the Cleveland Browns one year after trading five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil to the Washington Commanders and retaining right guard Ed Ingram on a three-year, $37.5 million deal and massive swing tackle Trent Brown on a one-year, $7 million deal, another reboot of the offensive line is underway.
The vision the Texans have for the offensive line is underscored by what Smith is all about and his gritty style of play while battling through and conquering a history of injuries and overcoming a mental health issue he dealt with two seasons ago involving a form of obsessive compulsive disorder called religious scrupulosity. Smith sought help through medication and treatment and resumed football after taking time for himself in 2024. He’s in a very good place now.
“There was a lot of stuff going on in my mind and a lot of fears,” Smith said. “I was always trying to find an answer to things. Things just kind of spun out of control, but it’s journey I’m very thankful for because I learned a lot about myself and about mindset and mindfulness, being in the present moment.”
Deeply religious and introspective in discussing his faith, Smith said he leaned on that and his family in making the decision to come to Houston. And it felt right to him.
“Coupe of weeks ago was when you really started thinking about, ‘All right, this is becoming more real,’ just thinking about all the different options and what could happen,” Smith said. “Really, just one night I said: ‘God,just put us where you need us.’
I’m not good at making these decisions, especially when you let the ego version of myself kind of take over. All these different things, let’s get down to what’s really important and just make this decision for me because ultimately what’s best for me and how the situation’s going to unfold."
The Texans, under the direction of offensive coordinator Nick Caley and offensive line coach and run game coordinator Cole Popovich, want to build an aggressive, downhill running game designed around the tackle-breaking style of newly-acquired running back David Montgomery. And they want to continue to improve at protecting quarterback C.J. Stroud, who was sacked a career-low 23 times last season.
That’s all right up Smith’s alley. At a lean 6-foot-6, 312 pounds, Smith has a reputation for toughness in the trenches.
“If I were to define myself, I’m a physical player,” Smith said. “That’s my style of play. I like to really do the gritty stuff, the gritty work and just playing physical. I’m not a finesse guy. I feel like I’m very kind of old school.
“Especially with my days at Auburn, running the ball all the time. That’s just something I really enjoy. I’m trying to be well-rounded and I’ll do the finesse if I have to do the finesse, but my roots are in playing physical.”
Smith, 29, is a former Colts second-round draft pick from Auburn who has started 105 of 107 career games played for Indianapolis.
Smith is tall and technically sound and he knows the AFC South division.
“I’m very excited about it,” Smith said. “I’ve loved playing in the AFC South for years. There’s always just good competition there. Just being able to join the Texans, it’s pretty exciting because they’re a high-level team.
“I’m really excited about what they’re doing. They have a stellar defense, C.J. Stroud, a great quarterback, I’m excited to join the offensive line and hopefully be able to help them out as much as I can and just do my part to help the team have success.”
Smith has a long background at right tackle. While he is capable of playing offensive guard, where he played collegiately, tackle is where he has gained a comfort zone in the NFL.
The Texans haven’t discussed moving Smith inside during the free agency process. He’s a tackle.
“Ultimately, it’s up to the coaches,” Smith said. “I’m a player and I’ll do whatever they ask me to. I’ve played a lot right tackle. If that’s where they need me, then that’s where I’ll play. If they need me to do something else, then I’ll do what they need me to do.”
When asked if the Texans had broached the idea of playing multiple positions, including guard, Smith replied: ‘No, sir. There wasn’t too much talk about position, but you just never know."
A former all-rookie selection, Smith started 13 games last season before suffering a concussion and a neck injury against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He’s fully healthy now and looking forward to playing for a playoff squad for the past three seasons that won the AFC South division title twice under the leadership of coach DeMeco Ryans.
"I’m very much a guy that likes to look in the present moment because, all those things will come if I can put it in the work right now," Smith said. “It starts right now. Free agency for me at least is over with. So, now it’s like, all right, now I can focus in and go to work.
“There’s a lot that can improve on as a player. It’s looking within right now and trying to just take each day, just grow as a football player, as a human being. I think a lot of people just tell you, just taking it one day at a time and then the rest will take care of itself.”
Blocking for Montgomery is something Smith is really looking forward to.
With the Colts, Smith blocked for one of the top running backs in the league in Jonathan Taylor. Now, he’ll apply those blocking fundamentals toward clearing a path for Montgomery. Montgomery’s nickname: ‘Knuckles.’
The Texans’ running game struggled last season with former team captain and Pro Bowl selection Joe Mixon missing the whole year with a mysterious foot injury. Mixon was recently released.
Montgomery will join Woody Marks, who was forced to start as a rookie and overtook Nick Chubb as the primary back.
“I think that would be great,” Smith said of blocking for Montgomery. “I love that type of mentality and just being able to play with a guy like that, hopefully I can do my part and just open up holes for him and protecting for C.J. Just playing physical, I think that’s where it all kind of starts and being able to bloody the other guy first.”
Stroud has already gotten in touch with Smith to express his enthusiasm about teaming up.
“He texted me just welcoming me and he’s a great guy and really excited to get to know him on a personal level and just be around all the guys,” Smith said. “I was honestly kind of surprised, just kind of a warm welcome and just seeing a random number pop up on my phone and saying like, ‘Hey, this is C.J. and just excited to get you here and work with you and it was really cool.
“I’m very much a guy that just like kind of get right to work. I’m anxious to get a playbook in my hand and start studying that stuff and just being ready to get out there and help as much as I can.”
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com