New England Patriots Acquire Akeem Ayers Via Trade
By Cory Buck
The New England Patriots have acquired linebacker Akeem Ayers from the Tennessee Titans in exchange for a favorable swap of low draft picks.
The New England Patriots are at it again. After learning that front seven force Chandler Jones will miss a month with injury, the team announced that they’ve traded a pick to the Tennessee Titans for linebacker Akeem Ayers and a lower draft pick. The Patriots released linebacker Ja’Gared Davis to make room for Ayers on their NFL roster.
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The Titans took Ayers in the second round of the 2011 draft. Ayers excelled in 2012 with over 100 combined tackles and six sacks to go with a forced fumble and an interception. His stats dropped off in 2013 though and Ayers has been hampered with injury and inconsistency in 2014, serving mostly as a backup this season.
Jason La Confora reports that the Patriots traded a sixth round pick to the Titans in exchange for Ayers and a seventh round pick. With the way Bill Belichick maneuvers with his draft picks, it’s not hard to believe he can easily recoup that loss in draft stature. Meanwhile, the Patriots have a low-risk, high-potential option at a position in which the team desperately needs help.
Along with Jones, the Patriots had to send Jerod Mayo to the IR. The front seven depth is diminishing by the day and at 5-2, the Patriots still have an AFC East throne to defend. They may not have the same stout front seven they began the season with, but as Tom Brady and the offense heat up, the defense can settle into managed expectations and demands just fine.
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