Braden Smith

Braden Smith (born March 25, 1996) is an American professional football offensive tackle for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Auburn Tigers.

Early life A native of Olathe, Kansas, Smith attended Olathe South High School, where he was a two-way lineman on the football varsity. Smith was credited with 82 pancake blocks on offense, 59 tackles on defense in his senior season.

Regarded as a four-star recruit by ESPN, Smith was ranked as the No. 9 offensive guard prospect in the class of 2014. He had offers from Alabama, Texas A&M, Georgia and Notre Dame, and decided to commit to Auburn University on May 27, 2014.

College career Smith played as a freshman, appearing in 12 games. In his sophomore season at Auburn, he played right guard and was named Second-team All-Southeastern Conference (SEC). Smith received All-America honors in both 2016 and 2017 as well as received the Jacobs Blocking Trophy for the best blocker in the SEC in 2017. He finished his collegiate career with 41 starts in four seasons.

Professional career

Indianapolis Colts Smith was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the second round, 37th overall, of the 2018 NFL draft. He was named the starting right tackle in Week 5, and started the final 12 games, as well as both games in the playoffs. He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team.

Smith was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the team on December 25, 2020, and activated on December 30.

On July 28, 2021, Smith signed a four-year, $72.4 million contract extension with the Colts.

Smith started all 13 appearances for Indianapolis during the 2025 season. On December 13, 2025, Smith was placed on injured reserve due to a concussion and neck injury suffered in Week 14 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Houston Texans

On March 10, 2026, Smith signed with the division rival Houston Texans on a two-year, $25 million contract.

Personal life In 2024, Smith was diagnosed with a type of obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) called religious scrupulosity. The disorder caused him to miss playing in the final five games of the 2024 NFL season and nearly drove him to retirement. He traveled to Mexico to be treated with ibogaine and 5-MeO-DMT, as the use of these psychedelic substances is banned in the United States, before returning home and beginning therapy. He reported improvement in his condition after the treatment.

Smith is Christian. He is married; he and his wife have a son.