New England Patriots 2018 NFL mock draft: Projecting the first 3 rounds

Round 1, Pick No. 31: Derrius Guice RB. LSU

It’s hard to ponder that Derrius Guice is not regarded as a top player in this draft class.

Guice is an incredible athlete and could give the Pats a stable running game in which they haven’t r had since Stevan Ridley in 2012. Guice has all the tools, as he uses his 212 lb. frame to violently run through linebackers, along with showing great speed and agility. He is fantastic at creating something from nothing due to his incredible talent. Although primarily a power back, he still has home run ability and is football speed is better then his combine time showed (4.49).

Even a banged up Guice in 2017 played excellent, as he rushed for over 1200 yards and scored touchdowns. When he was fully healthy in 2016, he was easily regarded as one of the best backs in the country even with teammate Lenard Fournette garnering lots of praise. If not for his injury, Guice would’ve easily been a top 15 pick in this year’s draft.

The New England Patriots aren’t known for taking running backs early, but they really need an all-purpose running back. Tom Brady is not getting any younger, and with an offense lacking real playmakers, Guice would be an excellent addition to add another element to the team.