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The Houston Texans are quickly becoming the Atlanta Falcons story in the AFC as a dominant regular season was wasted by a second consecutive departure from the playoffs in the Divisional Round. With a top 10 offense and defense, the Texans don't have many gaping holes on the roster, but could quickly have one if Shaun Cody enters free agency.
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That's why Dan Kadar and Matthew Fairburn selected a potential replacement for Cody in the latest mock draft from SB Nation:
27. Houston Texans - John Jenkins, NT, Georgia
The Wade Phillips 3-4 defense has never really relied on massive nose tackles in the front, but John Jenkins makes sense in this scenario. Shaun Cody is a free agent and Earl Mitchell is a backup-only player. Phillips' defense is designed to put players in one-on-one matchups, but superstar end JJ Watt often saw double teams this season. A player like Jenkins could command double teams in the middle, freeing Watt up on the outside.
Attacking the Texans usually meant going through the air as they were No. 1 at stopping rushing touchdowns, but No. 26 in passing touchdowns allowed. While a nose tackle is typically a pick to help bolster run defense, Kadar notes that the Texans could use a player to free up J.J. Watt from double teams.
After transferring to Georgia from a community college, Jenkins finished 2012 with All-SEC Second Team honors and measures in at a huge 6-foot-3, 358 pounds.