Patriots Announce Trade With Titans For LB Akeem Ayers
BOSTON (CBS) -- The New England Patriots have made a trade to bolster their linebacking corps.
The Patriots acquired fourth-year linebacker Akeem Ayers from the Tennessee Titans, the team announced on Wednesday. The deal was first reported by Titans beat writer Jim Wyatt on Tuesday afternoon.
Terms of the deal were not given in the Patriots' announcement, but CBS Sports' NFL Insider Jason La Canfora is reporting the Patriots will send a sixth round pick to the Titans and receive a seventh round pick as part of the trade.
Ayers was drafted in the second round, 39th overall, by the Titans in 2011 out of UCLA. In his three-plus NFL seasons, the 6-foot-3, 255-lbs Ayers has 232 combined tackles, nine sacks, three forced fumbles and two interceptions. His best season as a pro came in 2012, when he had a career-high 104 combined tackles and six sacks.
Ayers has played in just two games in 2014 and has three tackles, all coming on October 5 against the Cleveland Browns. Primarily a 4-3 outside linebacker, Ayers reportedly fell out of favor in Tennessee because of a switch to the 3-4 defense with defensive coordinator Ray Horton. Ayers also underwent surgery on both knees over the offseason.
The Patriots were in need of some depth at linebacker after Jerod Mayo was lost for the season in Week 6.
To make room for Ayers, the Patriots have released linebacker Ja'Gared Davis.
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