2012 NFL Mock Draft: The Houston Texans Select...

With the twenty-sixth pick of the 2012 CSC Community Mock Draft, the Houston Texans (chosen by Jimbo03) select...

Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State

While not their most glaring need, a player like Fletcher Cox falling to the Houston Texans at this point in the draft is too hard for the the team to ignore. While Dontari Poe was the darling of the combine, Cox held his own as far as measurables, and his actual game film speaks for itself. Cox may not be cut out to be a track and field star, but his career up to this point indicates he may actually be the best interior defensive lineman in this draft. More than anything, Cox's pass rushing ability and balance of speed and power set him apart from the other linemen in this class, and it makes him a perfect fit in the Texans 3-4 defense, should they decide to kick him out to defensive end.

The Kipers and Mayocks of the world may scream for a wideout here, but with all the "special" prospects at WR long gone at this point, reaching for one with this pick instead of stopping the really surprising slide of Cox makes very little sense. With a deep WR class, that need can be addressed without reaching in the later rounds.

The loss of Eric Winston would seem to indicate a gaping hole on the offensive line, but the Texans seem to be perfectly content to push Rashad Butler into the starting lineup, and again, the pool of truly elite prospects at OL has been drained at this point in the draft. Smarter to take an impact player that immediately improves a team that managed to go 10-6 and make its first playoff appearance last year, despite being absolutely decimated by injuries.

Taking a middle linebacker here is extremely tempting for the Texans after letting DeMeco Ryans walk because he was a square peg in the round hole of their defensive scheme, but backup Darryl Sharpton was already beginning to steal snaps from Ryan last season, and will likely start in the middle regardless of whom Houston drafts at the position. Again, it's a need that can be addressed later.

Cox is a complete no-brainer here as the Texans war room jumps for joy at getting a defensive lineman that never should have made it out of the top fifteen, much less dropped all the way to pick 26.

Thanks to all the CSC members who participated in this years community mock draft. Without your help, none of this would be possible.

Below are the complete results from our community mock draft.

Catch up with all of the mock draft selections in our 2012 CSC Community Mock Draft Section.