Patriots bulk up their stale offense in epic post-Combine 7-round mock draft

Round 4 Pick No. 104: MarShawn Lloyd, RB, USC

This may not be a popular pick in the fourth round and he may not even fall that far after seeing how well he did at the Combine, but Rhamondre Stevenson needs a right hand man and USC's MarShawn Lloyd seems like the guy for that.

There's also a factor that needs to be considered this year: Stevenson will be playing on the final year of his rookie contract and there has been no conversation regarding the Patriots interest or lack thereof in extending him beyond 2024. Taking an impressive running back in the draft will be a great plan if they choose to move on from Stevenson at the end of the year.

Lloyd has all the potential in the world to be a starter, too. His showing at the Combine exceeded many expectations, especially his speed for his size. He's naturally athletic with great vision and patience, which will be useful in the NFL.

He's shown improvement over the years in the passing game, having his most productive season last year when he recorded 13 receptions for 232 yards on top of his 115 carries for 816 yards and nine touchdowns.

No matter who the quarterback is next season, having a reliable run game is critical, and a backfield of Lloyd and Stevenson would be a fun one to watch.

Round 5 Pick No. 106: Xavier Thomas, EDGE, Clemson

The first pick for the defense is inevitably a pass rusher who can help Matthew Judon and Keion White slow down the countless mobile quarterbacks in the league. That's why the Patriots pick Xavier Thomas out of Clemson in round five, hoping he can put their defensive line over the top.

Thomas had a great college career, displaying his quickness and natural instincts to get the job done on a weekly basis. His stats don't always reflect how much he actually did during a game, and that is something that will be very much appreciated in New England.