6 players to get excited for in today's fourth round

Loston is a big, physical hitter in the secondary. Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images North America

The Patriots currently hold the fifth pick in tomorrow's first round. That means they're guaranteed to have at least two of these players available to them, each of whom would fill a need nicely. Get excited!

David Yankey: G, Stanford

Shocking to see Yankey, a player many had with a second round grade, still on the board. A three-year starter at Stanford, Yankey was a tough and reliable cog in the Cardinal's O-line. At 6'6", 315 pound, Yankey has good size for the position, and he also has the mobility to be a nice fit in the Patriots zone blocking scheme. If drafted, he would certainly have a chance to unseat Dan Connolly as a starter right away as a rookie, and would represent a potential upgrade to Tom Brady's protection on the interior.

Craig Loston: S, LSU

If you want the Patriots to add a big, physical hitter to their secondary, Loston is your guy. At 5'11" and 217 pounds, Loston is a massive presence in the secondary, where he likes to dole out punishing hits. Like most "big" safeties, he's more adept at playing downhill than turning and running with guys, but he's not a liability in coverage and makes a big impact in the box as a run defender. His football intelligence should also appeal to the Patriots, as he was the vocal leader of LSU's secondary, barking out alignments and keeping his teammates on the same page.

If the Patriots deem Loston too risky because of his injuries (7 missed games in the last three years), they could look for some brotherly love to bolster the safety position. Minnesota's Brock Vereen isn't particularly big or intimidating, but he's a rock-solid football player who excels in coverage.

Adrian Hubbard: LB, Alabama

Hubbard is a talented linebacker whose versatility could make him an appealing option for the Patriots. With the Crimson Tide, he flashed potential in every aspect of linebacker play: be it rushing the passer, setting the edge against the run or covering tight ends down the field, Hubbard has the talent to get it done. Adding a versatile playmaker like that would give Bill Belichick yet another toy to play with on third downs, where the Patriots are looking for more guys who can cover. With that said, there are some whispers out there about Hubbard's attitude that could be concerning, but the Patriots would be betting on the locker room leadership of Jerod Mayo and Vince Wilfork smoothing over those concerns. Florida State's Christian Jones could be a nice alternative if the attitude concerns don't check out; like Hubbard, he's an impressive athlete whose versatility would make him a great fit with the Patriots.

Telvin Smith

Smith would be an instant upgrade to the Pat's nickel packages

There's two ways to approach the need for linebacker depth. The team could seek a bigger, versatile player (like Hubbard or Jones) or they can look to add a smaller, more athletic option for their nickel packages. If they look for an infusion of speed and coverage ability, Smith could be a perfect fit. He's very undersized at 6'3", 218 pounds, but an excellent athlete who excels in coverage. He also plays much bigger than his size, and is able to use his athleticism to knife into the backfield and make plays. The Patriots would also love his temperament, as he's a fiery leader who plays with a lot of passion. If drafted, he would instantly upgrade the Patriots nickel packages, while also providing nice depth behind the starters at linebacker. Put it this way, if you were one of the people who was helping Ryan Shazier would fall to the Patriots, Smith is Shazier-lite.

If the Patriots were turned off by Smith failing a drug test at the combine, the Pats will have plenty of alternative to fill that nickel role. LSU's Lamin Barrow would be able to play right away in coverage, and the Pats could possibly wait another round or so and still have prospects like UConn's Yawin Smallwood and BC's Kevin Pierre-Louis available.

Andre Williams/Devonta Freeman

Finally, the Patriots have plenty of options on the table if they look to add another running back. BC's Andre Williams is a big, tackle-breaking back who would fill LeGarrette Blount's old role, with additional value as an option in pass protection. On the other hand, Freeman is a smaller back who projects as more of a third down option (he's excellent in the passing game) than a pounder between the tackles.

While Williams and Freeman are my two highest backs remaining on the board, they certainly aren't the only appealing options. Baylor's Lance Seastrunk and UCF's Storm Johnson are two very talented and productive backs who could prove to be steals on Day 3. Wisconsin's James White is another back whose ability in the passing game could make him a Patriots target. Finally, don't discount the possibility of adding Oregon's explosive De'Anthony Thomas as a return specialist and big play threat.