Verdict needed — be the first to weigh in on this NFL move.
No fan grades yet. Your vote sets the Fan Verdict the rest of the crowd reacts to.
C+
B+
N/A
Fan VerdictCast your verdict on this move
Grade Houston Texans sign Braden Smith
Your grade joins the crowd-sourced Fan Verdict.
Quick Reaction
Sentiment Analysis
B+
Positive
NegativeMixedPositive
Houston adds proven veteran tackle depth in a sensible free agency move. Media coverage mixed, highlighting both superlative performance and legitimate minicamp concerns. Smith's two-year, $20M deal represents fair market value for a solid right tackle. Texans fans debated whether upgrade adequately addresses offensive line needs versus other priorities. Houston gains experienced protection for young quarterback, though injury history warrants cautious optimism.
📰5 news
Contract Value Index (CVI)
C+
Fair Value
OverpayFair ValueGreat Value
The Texans' decision to lock up Braden Smith at $10M AAV over two years earns a C+ CVI, representing a fair market deal for a solid starter at left tackle who's entering his prime years. Smith's contract value sits right in the middle tier of recent offensive tackle extensions, avoiding both the premium pricing of elite blindside protectors and the bargain-bin deals reserved for swing tackles or aging veterans. Houston strikes a reasonable balance between securing their franchise quarterback's protection and maintaining cap flexibility, with $13.5M guaranteed providing Smith adequate security while keeping the Texans from being hamstrung if his performance declines. The two-year term works in both parties' favor — Smith gets to test free agency again in his prime, while Houston can evaluate whether he's worth a longer-term commitment without excessive risk. This represents competent roster management rather than a splash move, giving the Texans a dependable starter at a position where competence often trumps excellence, though they're paying market rate rather than finding exceptional value.
Contract Details
- Length
- 2 years
- Total Value
- $20.0M
- AAV
- $10.0M
- Guaranteed
- $13.5M
News & Buzz
Live Discussion
Auto-moderated fan forum with 5-minute speaker turns
Discussion
Loading discussion...
Explore the leaderboards
About this NFL transaction
The Houston Texans signed Braden Smith (OT) on March 13, 2026. FanVerdicts covers every reported NFL move — and asks fans to weigh in on each one. Cast your Fan Verdict on this move, see where the crowd lands, and argue the call. FanVerdicts brings its own read too — sentiment and Contract Value Index — as one honest input alongside the crowd's. Where FanVerdicts has weighed in so far: Contract Value Index C+, Sentiment B+.
Contract details below show the years, total value, average annual value, and guaranteed money behind the Contract Value Index read. That read does not change once written — it reflects market expectations at the moment of signing, recomputed only if the contract is restructured.
Want broader context? The NFL hub has the league-wide transaction feed and team rankings. The NFL transactions feed lists every reported move across the league, each one open for the crowd's verdict.