Texans Quietly Drew Trade Interest In Veteran Offensive Lineman

The Houston Texans may have been more willing to move on from one of their offensive linemen than initially expected, as right tackle Braden Smith reportedly generated interest from multiple teams ahead of the trade deadline.

According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, Smith emerged as a potential trade candidate in recent days, with several teams reaching out to Houston to gauge the possibility of acquiring the veteran tackle, "Right tackle Braden Smith was a trade candidate in recent days. He's out of the rotation in Houston. A handful of teams showed interest in a potential deal, but nothing materialized."

Ultimately, the Texans decided against making a deal, but the interest surrounding Smith is worth paying attention to. Houston's decision to move him out of the rotation suggests the coaching staff has found other options it prefers along the offensive line, leaving a veteran with considerable starting experience in an unfamiliar position. Trading him to recoup some draft capital sounds like it would have been a smart decision, but The Texans decided to prioritize depth.

Smith spent the first several seasons of his NFL career with the Indianapolis Colts before joining Houston. His experience and familiarity with the AFC South made him an intriguing option for teams searching for help at tackle, particularly those dealing with injuries or inconsistent offensive line play.

For the Texans, however, the situation is a little more complicated. Offensive line stability has been a recurring concern, and having experienced depth is never a bad thing over the course of a long NFL season. Even if Smith is no longer viewed as a starting option, keeping him around provides Houston with another veteran who could potentially be called upon if injuries become an issue.

At the same time, there is a reason to believe the Texans were at least willing to listen. If Smith is not part of the team's plans moving forward, finding a trade partner could have been an opportunity to recoup some draft capital rather than simply keeping a player outside the rotation.

Nothing came together before the deadline, so Smith remains in Houston for the time being. Still, the fact that multiple teams showed interest indicates there is a market for his services.

The Texans have bigger things to worry about as they continue their push toward the postseason as the team needs to climb the standings in the AFC, but their willingness to entertain offers for a veteran offensive lineman is an interesting development. If Smith's role does not change, this could be a situation worth revisiting once the offseason arrives.