Contract projection for Braden Smith; will Colts free agent stay or go?

Story byPaul Bretl, Colts WireThu, January 22, 2026 at 8:52 PM UTC·1 min readIndianapolis Colts' right tackle Braden Smith is set to be a free agent this upcoming offseason. So what might his next contract look like, and how much could he earn on a new deal?According to Spotrac, Smith's projected free agent contract will be a three-year deal worth $40.6 million. That's an average annual value of $13.5 million. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementSmith has been with the Colts for eight seasons and has provided them with stability at the right tackle position. However, after his 2025 season was cut short due to injury, the Colts turned to rookie Jalen Travis, who held his own on the right side. Over 175 pass blocking snaps, Travis allowed 12 pressures and just one sack. For what it's worth, he graded out well as a run-blocker by PFF's metrics. One year after the Colts moved on from Ryan Kelly and Will Fries in favor of second-year players Tanor Bortolini and Matt Goncalves, perhaps Indianapolis takes a similar path at right tackle. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe cap space not utilized on a new deal for Smith could then go towards another position. Now, having said that, if the Colts do move on from Smith, bolstering the depth and competition at tackle should still be on GM Chris Ballard's radar.