Texans pick up Clemson defensive tackle D.J. Reader in 5th round
Houston made their last pick of the 2016 Draft with the selection of Clemson defensive tackle D.J. Reader. A massively built, prototypical 3-4 nose tackle, Reader is a beast of an athlete at 6’3” and 328 lbs. Reader adds another body up front to the defensive line, and is a good depth pick for the Texans.
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Reader will be a bit of a project for the team. The prerequisite size and strength are there for Reader to be a starting nose tackle, but he needs quite a bit of seasoning and coaching up to get to that point. He is often described as dominant in practice, but that hasn’t yet turned into production on the field.
Reader impressed scouts and coaches around the league with his dominant performance during Senior Bowl practices. This kid is huge and should provide major pocket-push when he’s on the field, if single blocked.
Reader should benefit greatly learning behind future hall of famer Vince Wilfork, whom he emulates with his gargantuan frame. He needs to improve his hand technique when battling offensive lineman, and also improve at shedding blockers when moving laterally across the line to make tackles.
This is a solid addition for the team. You’re not going to find a nose tackle in the fifth round that can step in and start right away, but Reader has the size and talent to still be a part of the rotation with Christian Covington, behind Wilfork.
The Texans were able to fill a few needs on the last day of the draft, selecting three versatile players who can help right away as backups/rotation players. All three have high upside with the potential to be starters one day in the NFL.
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