NFL Draft 2016 Round 5: Houston Texans Select D.J. Reader

With the 166th pick in Round 5 of the 2016 NFL Draft, the Houston Texans select…

D.J. Reader!

For the first time in recent memory, the Texans have pretty much filled their off season needs via free agency before the draft.

The Texans went out and nabbed top free agents in Brock Osweiler and Lamar Miller to plug the gaping holes vacated by Arian Foster and whomever was the flavor of the week under center.

But the draft certainly comes at the right time where supplemental needs are to be filled.

Now is the time more than ever to ensure that the Texans can’t miss in these later rounds because a lot of these guys found will likely have a solid role on our roster.

You don’t have to take my word for it, ESPN’s Trey Wingo has mentioned that the 33 percent of an NFL team’s final roster are filled with picks in Rounds 4 through 7.

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That’s an interesting stat so the Texans will need to do everything they can to make it count and ensure that our fan base is proud of their work.

After all, it’s the fans that our the fuel to the NFL’s massive engine right?

It’s great that the Texans were able to find some quality help in this round and Reader could certainly be someone that could make a valuable contribution to this team.

Where do I start?

Reader’s role on the Texans could be larger-than-life and there’s no pun intended with that assertion.

He’s a defensive tackle that can cover on both the offensive and defensive ends and I’m sure that’s why the Texans selected him when he was available.

We all know that Vince Wilfork‘s days in the NFL are numbered and Clemson University’s Reader could be his successor if he is receptive to coaching to which I see no reason why he shouldn’t be.

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With his 6’3,” 327-pound frame, there’s no doubt that he’ll be plug holes like none other eventually.

He also knows how to deal with adversity as well — he lost his father back in 2014 and took a leave of absence at the beginning of the 2015 season to get his head together.

When he returned, he showed flashes of brilliance indicating that he was mentally ready to play football again.

Next: Houston Texans Select K.J. Dillon In Round 5

The positives of Reader are that asymmetrical with his frame — just like Wilfork — so that it doesn’t appear that his weight is a burden on him. He has enough speed to stay on top of plays on the field and has the potential to be effectively disrupt the pocket from his vantage point.

His weaknesses?

Similar to K.J. Dillon, the Texans’ preceding pick in Round 5, he’ll have to improve upon his tackling.

But that’s right in Romeo Crennel’s wheelhouse and I think he’ll be fine in that regard to his development.

But you don’t have to take my word for it, here’s what the experts had to say about Reader:

Mike Dulgerian of the NFL Network:

"“Reader will be an option for the Texans’ vacant nose tackle spot once Vince Wilfork hangs them up. He’s battle tested and should spend the next year or so proving why he’s the replacement.”"

610 SportsRadio’s John Harris‘ observation after the Senior Bowl:

Wrote this about newest Texan D.J. Reader in my Senior Bowl observations back in January pic.twitter.com/gGQlHkTUbv
— John Harris (@jharrisfootball) April 30, 2016

And another thing — the guy is so versatile that he also took part in the baseball program while at Clemson filling in part-time at first-base!

Reader had 83 tackles, nine tackles-for-loss and 4.5 sacks in his three years for the Tigers from 2013-15.

We’ll have to see if we’ve found Wilfork’s successor!

Go Texans.

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