Clemson nose tackle D.J. Reader goes to the Houston Texans late in the 2016 NFL Draft
With the first five picks being used to upgrade the offense, the Texans wrapped up their part of the 2016 NFL Draft getting a possible heir apparent to veteran nose tackle Vince Wilfork.
D.J. Reader goes to Houston with the No. 159 pick in the fifth round. Reader is a big boy (6-foot-3, 327 pounds), but he has great athletic skills and good speed for a 300-plus-pound player.
At Clemson, Reader left the Tigers just before the 2015 season as he was grieving the loss of his father. But he returned in October and put up decent numbers in eight games (13 tackles, 1.5 for loss). Before that, he was a top backup on the Tiger defense, with a strong sophomore season in 2014 (43 tackles, 5.0 for loss, three sacks).
Reader also played baseball for Clemson as a first baseman, although not as much playing time as he got for football.
Reader’s size will be able to clog up running lanes and be disruptive at the line of scrimmage, just like Wilfork. But he will need work to get better at his handwork and other skills, and the Texans brass thinks he can become a great fit with them.
Here is some of the Twitter reaction to the pick;
"He really has the ability to dominate and play at a high level."-GM Rick Smith on NT D.J. Reader.
— Drew Dougherty (@DoughertyDrew) April 30, 2016
Rick Smith on D.J. Reader: 'Really good scheme fit, has ability to dominate.'
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) April 30, 2016
Truly blessed to be apart of the @HoustonTexans organization. Now it's time to go to work!!
— Dj Reader (@Djread98) April 30, 2016
We’ll have to see if Reader can develop into the kind of player that Wilfork is, but for right now, it’s a good pick to get a guy that is ready to work.