Houston sent wide receiver Keshawn Martin and its 2016…
Houston sent wide receiver Keshawn Martin and its 2016 sixth-round pick No. 196 to New England for the Patriots' 2016 fifth-round pick No. 166. The Texans used No. 166 on D.J. Reader, who developed into the best long-term NFL player tied directly to the exchange. Martin offered New England short-term depth, but Reader's sustained interior-line value gives Houston the clear hindsight edge.
Houston Texans Received
- pick 2016 5th round pick (166th overall, D.J. Reader )
New England Patriots Received
- player Keshawn Martin
- pick 2016 6th round pick (196th overall; subsequently traded by New England)
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
On September 17, 2015, New England acquired Keshawn Martin and Houston's 2016 sixth-round selection, No. 196, for the Patriots' 2016 fifth-round selection, No. 166. The sixth-round pick later moved again, so Blake Countess belongs to the later pick chain rather than the direct Patriots return. Houston used No. 166 on defensive tackle D.J. Reader.
Houston Texans Return
Reader became the defining asset in the deal. Selected in the fifth round, he developed into a high-quality interior defender with a long NFL career and substantial value well beyond the usual expectation for pick No. 166. Houston therefore converted a depth receiver and a one-round drop into a player who became an important defensive piece. That result gives the Texans the strongest direct outcome in the transaction.
New England Patriots Return
Martin gave New England short-term receiving and return depth. He had a role, so the Patriots did not receive nothing, and the additional sixth-round selection preserved some draft flexibility. Still, No. 196 was later traded rather than becoming a direct long-term Patriots player. The package never produced a contribution comparable to Reader's sustained value for Houston.
Value in Hindsight
The price was modest on both sides, but the pick conversion is decisive. Houston moved from the sixth round into the fifth and landed a player who substantially outperformed that draft slot. New England received a useful temporary veteran and another movable choice, yet neither part of its return created similar staying power. Reader separates the trade without requiring an exaggerated grade gap.
Final Verdict
Houston earns a B+ and New England a C+. The Texans turned the exchange into D.J. Reader, the best and most durable player directly tied to the deal. Martin supplied some short-term utility for the Patriots, but Houston's draft result makes this a Houston Texans Win.