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Why analyst says Colts' second year player is under pressure in 2026
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- Why analyst says Colts' second year player is under pressure in 2026
The Indianapolis Colts selected offensive tackle Jalen Travis in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, and in 2026, he will fill a much larger role.
Travis is expected to begin the year as the Colts ' starting right tackle following the departure of Braden Smith . The former Iowa State star made four total starts at right tackle last season, and Travis will now look to build upon last year's success during his sophomore campaign in 2026.
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PFF's Bradley Locker recently listed his top ten players in the NFL who are under pressure to perform at a high level in their second year this upcoming season. Travis was the lone Colts' player on Locker's list, as the analyst believes the lineman will play a critical role in Indianapolis' offensive success this year.
"With longtime stalwart Braden Smith heading to rival Houston this spring, Travis is now in pole position to be the Colts' new starting right tackle," Locker wrote. "Given Indianapolis' penchant for developing quality offensive linemen, the Iowa State product could step up to the plate swiftly in his second year. No matter what, Travis should boast a significantly larger role for a team that's in the microscope following a late-season collapse — and which figures to compete in a tough division yet again."
The talented big man flashed his potential when given the opportunity to start. In those games, Travis allowed one sack and 12 pressures over 175 pass-blocking snaps. He also graded out well as a run-blocker by PFF's metrics.
This offseason, Quenton Nelson has been "impressed" with what he's seen from Travis in Year 2.
Travis will play a critical role during his second season in Indianapolis. The offensive line keeping the quarterback clean and having a run game to lean on is where consistency begins.
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This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: Why analyst says Colts' second year player is under pressure in 2026
