Braden Smith has been a mainstay for the Indianapolis Colts for seven years, a reliably great offensive tackle who has only endeared himself more to fans with his off-field battles. Yet 2025 might end up being the last season we see him wearing the shoe.
Smith is one of multiple players set to be a free agent in the offseason, and there is a good chance he could end up walking. While he is still playing at a high level, he's also getting older, and Indianapolis doesn't have a lot of money to play with.
This isn't to say he won't be resigned; there are a lot of reasons why the Colts could choose to extend him for another few years. And Smith's expected contract is certainly not unreasonable. Yet Indy is going to have some tough decisions to make, and Smith could end up being a casualty.
If this is the end for Braden Smith, Colts fans have every reason to be grateful
The Colts made a huge move earlier this season by signing cornerback Sauce Gardner from the New York Jets, and he didn't come cheap. The Colts will also likely end up re-signing quarterback Daniel Jones, Achilles rupture notwithstanding, and that means Indianapolis will be forced to make some bit cuts.
Smith may not be expected to bring in insane amounts of money, but it still might be more than the Colts can afford to pay — and there is no doubting that he'll be in high demand. He had to take some time off last season due to a mental health crisis, but came back even stronger this year.
The other factor working against Smith is his age; he'll be turning 30, which means the amount of time he truly can keep playing is limited. Even though he is one of the best tackles in the game, it may not be worth it for the Colts in the long run. But that doesn't mean it won't hurt to see him walk.
The Colts won't have a first-round pick in the draft in 2026, but there is still a good chance they'll be able to pick up another offensive tackle in a later round.
Smith is a great offensive lineman, but he may not be great enough to be worth the Colts doing whatever may be necessary to keep him in Indy. And given what he has meant to this team over the years, it will be sad to see him go, even if it is inevitable.