Niner Noise
FanSided

2016 NFL Draft: 5 Late-Round Prospects the 49ers Should Target

By Jerod Brown

Apr 30, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; A general view of the stage before the 2015 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 30, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; A general view of the stage before the 2015 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 6
Next
Jan 27, 2016; Mobile, AL, USA; South squad defensive tackle D.J. Reader of Clemson (94) hits a tackling dummy in a drill during Senior Bowl practice at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Glenn Andrews-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 27, 2016; Mobile, AL, USA; South squad defensive tackle D.J. Reader of Clemson (94) hits a tackling dummy in a drill during Senior Bowl practice at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Glenn Andrews-USA TODAY Sports /

D.J. Reader-Nose Tackle-Clemson

The 49ers plans for the draft will be tied to their plans for free agency. Ideally, the team will re-sign nose tackle Ian Williams, but they have to be prepared in the event Williams opts for a change of scenery.

If Williams leaves, the 49ers can draft his eventual replacement on day three of the NFL Draft. The replacement will come in the form of Clemson’s DJ Reader.

Interested in seeing what Reader can do? Please, enjoy.

Reader is incredibly large at 6’3” and 335 pounds. Many draftniks will crush on Clemson’s pass-rushers Shaq Lawson and Kevin Dodd but those two players can excel because Reader is so strong at the point of attack.

He uses his strength and technique to disengage in gaps and stuff runs before they begin. Clemson’s defense was impressive because of the ability of their defensive line, Reader included.

Miller listed Reader at 289th on his Top 300 but that has surely changed over the last month as more people have become familiar with Reader. Despite his climb, it is still realistic to expect the 49ers to have an opportunity to get Reader on the third day of the Draft. If they have an opportunity, they should consider Reader.

The 49ers already have defensive tackle Quinton Dial on the roster and may not even expect Reader to start in his first year or two. If Williams leaves in free agency, the team may just kick Dial inside to play nose tackle in the team’s 3-4 defense.

They would, however, need a backup to develop and young talent along the defensive line is an asset that becomes increasingly important in today’s NFL landscape.

With  elite strength along the interior of the defensive line, Reader could be a major steal for the 49ers in the 2016 NFL Draft.

Next: Finding a Position