New England Patriots acquire former UCLA linebacker Akeem Ayers in trade with Titans

After struggling a bit to start the season, the New England Patriots (5-2) have more or less stabilized things, and are now looking to provide Tom Brady and company with some help in a very competitive AFC.

Today, the Patriots announced that they have at least added a piece to their defense, acquiring LB Akeem Ayers in a trade with the Tennessee Titans. Other outlets have reported that along with Ayers, the Titans sent New England a seventh-round pick in exchange for a sixth-round pick in return.

Ayers, 25, has been with the Titans since being drafted in the second round (39th overall) of the 2011 NFL Draft out of UCLA.  The former Bruin was a very athletic player at his position coming out of college, but this season saw his playing time decrease due to his recovery from offseason surgery on both knees. 

Ayers has played in 50 NFL games with 44 starts and has registered 254 total tackles, nine sacks, two interceptions 18 passes defensed, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. The 6-foot-3, 255-pounder, earned a starting position at linebacker as a rookie in 2011, leading all linebackers with 88 total tackles. He had a team-leading 110 total tackles with six sacks in 2012. Ayers played in two of Tennessee’s first seven games in 2014.

When asked what Ayers might bring to the Pats D, tight-lipped coach Bill Belichick briefly replied, "We’ll see. We’ll start working with him today. He’s played linebacker, he’s played defensive end in sub situations. We’ll start working with him."

If Ayers is healthy enough to get on the field, he would help fill a need at linebacker considering that Jerod Mayo has been lost for the season due to injury.

In addition, the Patriots released LB Ja’Gared Davis to make room for Ayers.

Davis, 24, was signed from the practice squad to the 53-man roster on Oct. 4, 2014.  The 6-foot, 238-pounder, was originally signed by Houston as a rookie free agent out of Southern Methodist on May 10, 2013. He was released by Houston on Aug. 27, 2013, and claimed off waivers and awarded to the Patriots on Aug. 28, 2013.

By Staff of TheDailySportsHerald.com