D.J. Reader, 3-4DE, Clemson Height: 6-3. Weight: 340. Arm: 32.63. Hand: 9. 40 Time: 5.33. Projected Round (2016): 3-5. 4/27/16: Reader is very tough to move at the point of attack. The heavy nose tackle is a good run-lane plugger who would fit as a nose tackle in a 3-4 or 4-3 defense. He never made a lot of plays, but still filled his gap and ate up blockers. He had a respectable performance at the combine.
Would have preferred Latham, but not bad. You can never tell if there's background check stuff you never hear about that skews evaluation.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">166 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Texans?src=hash">#Texans</a> DJ Reader DT Huge mammoth. Low pad level and gets good push. Struggles to get off of tough blocks. Good motor for big NT.</p>— Shane P. Hallam (@ShanePHallam) <a href="https://twitter.com/ShanePHallam/status/726490423833845760">April 30, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Combine Results 40 Time: 5.33 Bench: 30 Vertical: 29.5 inches Broad: 8’3 3-Cone: 7.90 Short Shuttle: 4.71 60-yard Shuttle: DNP
What I like about Reader is that he's a guy if you use only one guy on, he'll absolutely eat ANYONE you throw at him. Having another guy that commands a double team and is a run stopper is huge IMO
Wilforks replacement in waiting. Dude just eats blocks and clogs lanes. Not a lot of pass rush, but dude is reliable up the middle. Could allow packages with Wilfork out at DE as well.
Sounds like your classic space eating nose tackle. I have no clue whether he's gonna be good or not, but I do love getting a guy like that. Clogging up the middle is massively important.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The best part of the Texans draft is the fact that they're GM, HC, etc. are on the phone calling every priority UDFA while other teams draft</p>— Jayson Braddock (@JaysonBraddock) <a href="https://twitter.com/JaysonBraddock/status/726490934796382208">April 30, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">DJ Reader freaky huge athlete.. also played baseball at Clemson. Was clocked throwing a pitch at 94 mph...while weighing 321 lbs. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Texans?src=hash">#Texans</a></p>— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) <a href="https://twitter.com/BruceFeldmanCFB/status/726492957004599300">April 30, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Texans?src=hash">#Texans</a> latest pick (Clemson) DJ Reader on coming to Houston "excited. Great program, great team, great group of coaches" <a href="https://twitter.com/KPRC2">@KPRC2</a></p>— Lainie Fritz (@KPRC2Lainie) <a href="https://twitter.com/KPRC2Lainie/status/726492912888868864">April 30, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">DJ Reader is disruptive force in the trenches. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Texans?src=hash">#Texans</a> able to find Wilfork's successor. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/nfldraft?src=hash">#nfldraft</a> <a href="https://t.co/h1wI1qS5Lp">https://t.co/h1wI1qS5Lp</a></p>— Top Pick Scouting (@TopPickScouting) <a href="https://twitter.com/TopPickScouting/status/726492349459779584">April 30, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
So do I. Loaded up on traits early on and then got defensive value at the back (where typically you get better value on that side of the ball). Interested to see how aggressive they are in UDFA. Would like to see ILB, DE, OT, TE all addressed in multiples.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Plays like this are some of my most favorite to watch. D.J. Reader fights the double team well and disrupts the play <a href="https://t.co/GEQeFOkZcs">pic.twitter.com/GEQeFOkZcs</a></p>— Matt Pearce (@Matt_Pearce13) <a href="https://twitter.com/Matt_Pearce13/status/723614995003498496">April 22, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Drew Dougherty ✔@DoughertyDrew "He's a force to be reckoned with."-Mike Mayock on newest #Texans D-lineman D.J. Reader.