Braden Smith Bio
Braden Smith (born March 25, 1996) is an American professional football offensive tackle. As of the 2025 season he is a member of the Indianapolis Colts, and he later signed with the Houston Texans in March 2026. He played college football for the Auburn Tigers and entered the NFL in 2018. Smith has been recognized throughout his career as a durable, technically sound lineman who started the majority of his professional games.
Listed at 6 feet 6 inches and 312 pounds, Smith has built a reputation as a reliable offensive tackle. His college accolades at Auburn and his steady production in the NFL have made him one of the more respected linemen of his draft class.
Early Life and Background
Braden Smith was born on March 25, 1996, in Olathe, Kansas, and grew up in the same community. He attended Olathe South High School, where he developed into a two-way varsity lineman. In his senior season, he was credited with 82 pancake blocks on offense and 59 tackles on defense, a workload that reflected his combination of size, power, and motor.
Regarded as a four-star recruit by ESPN, Smith was ranked as the No. 9 offensive guard prospect in the class of 2014. He drew scholarship offers from several elite programs, including Alabama, Texas A&M, Georgia, and Notre Dame, before choosing to continue his career at Auburn University, where he committed on May 27, 2014.
Path to American Football
Smith’s path to professional football began in earnest on the offensive line at Olathe South, where his production in the trenches set him apart from his peers. The combination of his size, footwork, and finishing mentality made him a natural fit for the tackle position at the next level.
His recruitment to Auburn placed him in one of the strongest offensive line programs in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Surrounded by high-level coaching and competition, Smith was able to refine the technical side of his game, particularly his hand placement and leverage, which later became hallmarks of his professional play. By the end of his senior year of high school, he was widely viewed as one of the most college-ready linemen in his class.
Braden Smith Career
Early Career (2014–2017)
Smith enrolled at Auburn in 2014 and quickly saw the field as a freshman, playing in 12 games during his first season. As a sophomore, he took over the right guard role and was recognized for his work with Second-team All-SEC honors. Those early years were important for his development, giving him the chance to adjust to the speed and physicality of SEC football.
By the time his Auburn career ended, Smith had made 41 starts across four seasons. He collected All-America honors in both 2016 and 2017, added the Jacobs Blocking Trophy in 2017 as the best blocker in the SEC, and was a two-time First-team All-SEC selection. His production and consistency made him one of the top offensive line prospects heading into the 2018 NFL draft.
NFL Breakthrough (2018–2020)
Braden 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 of his rookie season and went on to start the final 12 games of the year, including both Colts playoff contests. His early play earned him a spot on the PFWA All-Rookie Team, signaling a smooth transition to professional football.
From 2019 through 2020, Smith continued to serve as a steady presence on Indianapolis’s offensive line, lining up at both tackle and guard while maintaining a strong run-blocking presence. The 2020 season brought a brief interruption when he was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list on December 25, 2020, before being activated on December 30. Despite the disruption, he remained a trusted starter for the Colts.
Indianapolis Colts Era (2021–2025)
On July 28, 2021, Smith signed a four-year, $72.4 million contract extension with Indianapolis, a deal that reflected his value to the franchise. He responded with dependable play, anchoring the right side of the line and contributing to the Colts’ rushing attack. Through the 2024 season, he had been a model of durability, regularly appearing in nearly every game.
During the 2025 season, Smith started all 13 of his appearances for Indianapolis. On December 13, 2025, however, he was placed on injured reserve after suffering a concussion and a neck injury in Week 14 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, bringing his season to an early end. As of the close of that campaign, his career totals included 107 games played and 105 games started.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the most notable events of Smith’s career is his rapid rise to a starting role as a rookie and his subsequent selection to the PFWA All-Rookie Team. His 2021 contract extension stands as one of the most significant financial milestones of his career, while his 105 career starts through the 2025 season underscore his reliability and longevity in the league.
Braden Smith Career Wins
As an offensive lineman, Braden Smith’s career is measured less in individual victories than in consistent team contributions, individual awards, and contract achievements. His resume includes a PFWA All-Rookie Team selection, two First-team All-SEC honors, a Second-team All-SEC selection, a First-team All-American nod, and the Jacobs Blocking Trophy. His 2018 draft placement and 2021 contract extension further mark the scale of his professional success.
NFL Highlights
Smith’s most prominent NFL highlight came in his rookie season of 2018, when he took over the starting right tackle job in Week 5 and held it through the postseason. He has been a fixture in Indianapolis’s starting lineup ever since, with his 2021 extension standing as a defining moment in his career. His steady presence helped the Colts maintain stability along the offensive line even amid coaching and scheme changes.
Braden Smith Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Braden Smith is a native of Olathe, Kansas, and grew up in a supportive family environment that helped him pursue football from a young age. His path from Olathe South High School to Auburn and then to the NFL was shaped by the encouragement he received at home, and he has often credited his family for grounding him through the demands of a professional career.
Personal Life
Smith is a Christian, and he is married. He and his wife have a son. In 2024, he was diagnosed with a form of obsessive-compulsive disorder known as religious scrupulosity. The condition caused him to miss the final five games of the 2024 NFL season and nearly led him to retire, but after receiving treatment he reported meaningful improvement in his health and well-being.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season was a difficult but important year for Braden Smith. He started all 13 of his appearances for the Indianapolis Colts, continuing his role as a reliable presence on the offensive line. His blocking helped the Colts establish consistency in the trenches, and his veteran presence remained a stabilizing force.
Smith’s season was cut short in mid-December. On December 13, 2025, he was placed on injured reserve after sustaining a concussion and a neck injury in Week 14 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Despite the late injury, his body of work through 13 games reinforced his standing as one of the most durable linemen in the league.
Through 107 career games played and 105 career games started, Smith had firmly established himself as a long-term starter at the NFL level. His 2025 performance, while interrupted, added to that reputation and set the stage for his next chapter, including his reported agreement with the Houston Texans in March 2026.
