Indianapolis, IN — The one position (group) that longtime Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard has remained consistently strong at has been that of the offensive line.
It admittedly may be too early to tell, but rookie tackle Jalen Travis appears to be Ballard’s latest hit from across the offensive line. Drafted in the fourth round at 127th overall, Travis offered a prototypical canvas to work with, standing at a towering 6’8” and weighing 340 lbs. Long story short, things are trending upward for Travis after his rookie season in the NFL.
This is the fourth installment of an ongoing article series that’ll cover each Colts rookie from the 2025-26 season.
Expectations — As far as his rookie season goes, there was certainly some responsibility heading into Jalen Travis’s first professional season. He became the offense’s swing tackle following a strong camp battle with fellow tackle Blake Freeland, being penciled in as the de facto backup after Freeland wound up on the season-ending injured reserve with a fractured leg during preseason play.
Aside from his anticipated relief duties as a rookie, Travis was viewed on draft day as the future Braden Smith replacement at right tackle.
Rookie Season — His rookie campaign went about as expected for an early Day 3 tackle prospect: some highs, some lows, but at the end of the day, the flashes were more promising than they were disappointing.
Playing 29% of the possible offensive snaps, Jalen Travis did more than get his feet wet in the NFL with 316 snaps logged (247 at RT, 61 at LT). After longtime Colts starter at right tackle Braden Smith went down late in the season, it was the rookie’s time to shine.
Above is Jalen Travis’s official stat line from his rookie season, per Pro Football Focus. He started the last four games of the season for the Indianapolis Colts, offering a strong floor for quarterbacks Philip Rivers and Riley Leonard.
Future Outlook — As previously mentioned, Jalen Travis was naturally viewed as the future Braden Smith replacement at right tackle. So far, so good, I’d say. Despite some rookie woes here and there, the succession plan appears to be going off without a hitch.
Braden Smith is set to become an unrestricted free agent at 30 years old. This could be the offseason where the Colts finally part ways with their longtime right tackle, a staple of the Chris Ballard era, opening the door for Jalen Travis to be a full-time starter in just his second season. Whether or not he’s prepared for the potential opportunity at hand remains to be seen, though he’s certainly the next man up.
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