3 Small-School Steals the Patriots Can Draft in Late Rounds

1. Jalen Green, EDGE, James Madison

Not only did Jalen Green play for a small school in James Madison but he's also an outlier in terms of size. The Dukes' defensive end is just 6-foot-1 and 245 pounds which will immediately turn some teams off. In New England, that might not be much of a problem.

Their top pass rusher is Matthew Judon who lines up as an outside linebacker. While he has enough size to play on the defensive line (6-foot-3 and 270 pounds), Josh Uche has also found success and is built similarly to Green. Uche, who had 11.5 sacks in 2022, is 6-foot-3 and 240 pounds. That means Green would need to learn a new role but he's got enough positive traits to give him a shot.

Green knows how to use his compact frame to his advantage and often wins leverage battles — evidenced by his 18 sacks and 34 quarterback pressures in 2023. He's also great with his hands and can surprise offensive linemen, leading to holding penalties.

Having said all that, this pick wouldn't be without risk. Not only does Green have a disadvantage when it comes to his size but he didn't face elite competition. But there are worse ways to spend a seventh-round pick.

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