Speaking with Buffalo Bills 5x Pro Bowl tackle Dion Dawkins, Las Vegas Raiders star pass rusher Maxx Crosby brought up an unexpected name when talking about some of the most underrated players in the NFL: Houston Texans offensive tackle Braden Smith.
Smith, 29, signed a two-year, $25 million contract with the Texans in March after spending eight seasons with the Indianapolis Colts. Starting 105 out of 107 career games, Smith isn’t the flashy player fans pay attention to, but Crosby made sure to give him glowing praise.
Raiders’ Maxx Crosby Sends Glowing Praise to Texans’ Braden Smith
GettyBraden Smith #72 of the Indianapolis Colts lines up during the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Maxx Crosby recounts “going to war” against Braden Smith and acknowledging that, although he’s not well known, he’s one of the top tackles in the NFL.
“There’s some random guys that nobody talks about and you’re like, ‘That MF is lowkey cold,’ Crosby said. “I’ll give what’s his name props. Braden Smith. I’ve had battles with him. I’ve been playing him for years now. Doesn’t get Pro Bowls. Doesn’t get a ton of recognition. He’s a big mean MF. 6’7″ huge MF. He doesn’t say a word. Like you’re talking to a F** wall. And a guy like that, he’s one of those guys that I’m like, ‘This is gonna be a F** bloodbath. We’re gonna go to war, and we never say a F** word to each other… I think he’s one of the best tackles in the league.”
The Raiders could have used a guy like Smith at right tackle, but he ended up signing a two-year deal with the Texans one day after the start of free agency.
Raiders’ Tackle Spot Could Be Up For Grabs
Kolton Miller has the left tackle job on lock, but it’s DJ Glaze’s job to lose at right tackle.
Glaze, who started at right tackle the past two seasons at right tackle, had a shaky 2025 campaign where he gave up 48 total pressures, which included 10 sacks and six hits allowed. He was also flagged for five penalties, so it’s not guaranteed that he’ll be the starting right tackle at the moment.
One name to keep an eye on is Raiders’ third-round pick Trey Zuhn III, who has experience at tackle and center and could find himself in a starting spot early on.
“Play wherever they need me,” Zuhn said. “Play whatever gets me on the field and, yeah, just block the guy in front of me. I just want to get on the field as quickly as possible, contribute to the team, and help out the team. So, wherever they need me, that’s where I’m going to be…Any of the five.”
In terms of “any of the five,” Zuhn means any of the five spots along the offensive line, which could be at right tackle. In college, he mostly played at left tackle with some snaps at center, but he could beat Glaze for the starting RT spot.
Regardless, Zuhn has the potential to be a starter, whether that’s at right tackle, left guard, or right guard.
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