The Texans used their second pick in the 5th round on Clemson defensive tackle D.J. Reader.
He was the 166th pick overall, and the second defensive player taken by the Texans.
"Just excited," Reader said. "It's a great program and a great team and a great group of coaches."
Reader (6-3, 327), was a co-captain of the 2015 Tigers, and finished the year with 35 tackles and three quarterback pressures. In the BCS National Championship Game against Alabama, he earned a share of the Defensive Player of the Game honors from coaches. In that contest, he tallied four tackles.
"If you watch those last few games this year, he really has the ability to dominate and really play at a high level," general manager Rick Smith said.
Smith added that Reader "is a really good scheme fit, high-character young man, a really aggressive player."
Reader's hometown is Greensboro, North Carolina, and over the course of his four years with the Tigers he notched 145 tackles, with nine going for a loss. He also rang up five sacks and 24 quarterback pressures from 2012 to 2015.
In the 2012-13 academic year, he lettered in both football and baseball at Clemson. He was a pitcher, with a fastball that was clocked in the 90 mph range.
In fact, he turned to baseball last night to blow off a little steam.
"Just got tired of listening and waiting and watching the draft, went out and took some dry swings and hit some balls off the tee," Reader said.
Reader was the sixth and final pick of the Texans' 2016 NFL Draft Class.
| Round | Overall | Player | Position | School |
| 1 | 21 | Will Fuller | WR | Notre Dame |
| 2 | 50 | Nick Martin | C | Notre Dame |
| 3 | 85 | Braxton Miller | WR | Ohio State |
| 4 | 119 | Tyler Ervin | RB | San Jose St. |
| 5 | 159 | K.J. Dillon | S | West Virginia |
| 5 | 166 | D.J. Reader | DT | Clemson |
