Armed with a revamped mental approach and lessons from Josh Hines-Allen, undrafted standout BJ Green II aims to secure a vital rotational role behind Jacksonville’s powerhouse starters.
BJ Green II approaches film differently than he did in college; that change has also shifted his mindset heading into his second year with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Green told "Into the Night" host Rick Ballou that he watched film on his opponents back at Colorado. The 6-foot-1 defensive end studied offensive linemen's tendencies, pondering how he'd attack their weaknesses.
His philosophy led to a career-best season with the Buffaloes. He recorded 7.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and 33 tackles under the guidance of defensive ends coach Vincent Dancy.
Colorado's star defensive end was named Big 12 Newcomer of the Year and First Team All-Big 12. Despite a dominant performance in a Power Four conference, all 32 NFL teams passed on him in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Jacksonville took a chance on Green, signing him as an undrafted free agent. The former Buffalo did not disappoint in his rookie year as a rotational player. He totaled 15 tackles and two sacks across 14 games.
Those two sacks came in back-to-back weeks against the New York Jets and Denver Broncos.
Last season was also a learning experience for him. Green said he realized the defense can influence the game's momentum, and while studying the opponent is important, so is a self-review, a lesson he learned from Hines-Allen.
"Like most of the stuff I watch -- Josh is watching himself," Green told Ballou. "Like, he still watches the other team, but at the end of the day, he watches himself the most."
The Jaguars' second-year defensive end also said the defense dictates the terms of interaction. His mindset shifted after that. It's not about how Green can beat an opposing lineman; it's about whether they can stop him.
As training camp is underway, he is competing for the third spot in the defensive end depth chart.
Jacksonville has a lethal pass-rushing duo in Travon Walker and Hines-Allen. Injuries limited Walker to 14 games, tying his career-low in sacks at 3.5. The 2022 first-overall pick is a double-digit sack machine when he's healthy, posting back-to-back 10-sack seasons in 2023 and 2024.
Hines-Allen is the model of consistency. He's played at least 16 games in six of his seven seasons, often coming close to putting together a 10-sack season. His career-best is 17.5 sacks in 2023.
Those two will man the starting positions for the foreseeable future, especially after Walker's extension, but additional depth is a much-needed luxury. Green could step into that role with an impressive training camp before preseason starts in a few weeks.
He isn't going to let opposing offensive linemen stop him, saying "something's got to give," and it won't be him.
