The writing was already on the wall for Braden Smith when the Indianapolis Colts drafted Jalen Travis in 2025. The No. 127 pick out of Iowa State showed signs of promise as a rookie, which is why they didn't fight hard to keep Smith in town.
Smith jumped ship to join the Houston Texans on a two-year, $20 million contract, leaving Travis as the undisputed starter at right tackle. That's just the way it goes with younger players in this cruel line of business.
That said, it's one thing to hold down the fort as a rookie, and an entirely different thing to be a starter. The Colts are throwing Travis into the fire after playing somewhat sparingly as a rookie, and that's a risky call.
Jalen Travis will have to step up for the Indianapolis Colts
Travis played in all 17 games as a rookie, but he only started in four. He was pretty decent for a rookie fourth-round pick, drawing just two penalties in 316 total snaps. According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), he allowed just 12 total pressures, including three QB hits and one sack.
He had the highest PFF grade among Colts rookies (72.2), even ahead of Tyler Warren, and he ranked 33rd out of 89 eligible tackles league-wide. His pass-blocking grade (71.2) ranked 39th, and his run-block grade (72.6) was 26th.
The eye test also backed up his case, using strong timing and understanding of zone concepts to keep the quarterback out of harm's way. His prowess for the running game will also come in handy for a team featuring arguably the best and most dynamic running back in the game.
That said, he was a fourth-round selection for a reason. The sample size was limited, and we've seen how much Daniel Jones can struggle when the pocket collapses and he's facing pressure. He's coming off two major injuries and might not be as elusive, at least early in the season, and opposing teams can target the inexperienced tackle and exploit him as the weakest link in the offensive line.
On paper, Travis can be a productive asset to this team for years to come. He has experience on both sides of the line and looked like a seamless fit for Shane Steichen's offense when he was needed.
However, the Colts have little to no margin for error after such a disappointing end to last season, and not keeping Smith, an above-average pass-blocker who gave up just five total sacks in the past three years, might come back to haunt them in 2026.
Add us as a preferred source on Google