Texans pick OL Nick Martin in 2nd round of NFL draft

CHICAGO – The Houston Texans added another piece to their revamped offense led by new quarterback Brock Osweiler on Friday night by taking Notre Dame center Nick Martin in the second round of the NFL draft.

Houston gave up its sixth-round pick at 195 to the Falcons to move up two places to nab Martin. 

It's the second Notre Dame player Houston has chosen in this draft after trading up one spot to take Fighting Irish receiver Will Fuller with the 21st pick in the first round on Thursday night.

Martin is thrilled to join Fuller in Houston.

"Oh my gosh, absolutely," he said. "That's one of the first things I thought of. We watched the draft last night with family and I texted Will when he got picked. He couldn't be a more explosive and better player or better guy and teammate off the field."

Houston added Osweiler and running back Lamar Miller in free agency to boost their offense, but had a need at center after losing Ben Jones in free agency to the Titans. Jones started every game at center for Houston over the past two seasons.

The 6-foot-4, 299-pound Martin is the younger broker of Zack Martin, who was a first-round pick by the Cowboys in 2014 and a two-time Pro-Bowler at guard. Nick Martin said he patterned his game after watching his older brother and laughed when it was mentioned that the Cowboys and Texans are rivals.

"We've been teammates all of our lives and we're enemies now," he said.

Martin appeared in 50 games with 37 starts in a four-year career at Notre Dame, including starting all 26 games in his last two seasons there. Martin is versatile lineman, having also started several games for the Irish at left guard.

Houston added wide receiver Braxton Miller of Ohio State in the third round Friday night.