An Answer at Inside Linebacker: Akin Ayodele Signed by Denver Broncos

Funny name, serious results.

Josh McDaniels' answer at inside linebacker was not a first round pick.

For those yearning for a Rolando McClain/D.J. Williams tandem with Elvis Dumervil and Robert Ayers on the outsides, well...I would have liked to have had that too.

Instead, we've added Akin Ayodele out of Miami, and he should be a manageable starter in replacing Andra Davis.

Aside from having one of the greatest names in football (Akin means "undefeated warrior"), Ayodele is an extremely reliable starter. As a journeyman linebacker, he has had stints with Jacksonville, Dallas, and Miami. He was drafted by Jacksonville with the 89th pick (third round) in the 2002 NFL draft.

Originally from Dallas, Texas, Ayodele played his college football at Purdue University.

According to the Denver Broncos website, Ayodele is one of three linebackers in the NFL who hasn't missed a game since 2002.

While his career statistics are not overly exciting (seven interceptions, 9.5 sacks, 630 tackles), he is part of an emerging trend of player/coach swaps between Denver and Miami.

Ayodele is not the only player the Denver Broncos added following the draft; the team also signed nine undrafted rookie free agents. Since the focus of those pickups was defense, a few might still be on the roster by the time opening day comes around.

Since Ayodele was signed shortly after the draft, it seems to be an admission from McDaniels that he did have targets at inside linebacker in the draft; they obviously slipped by.

That shouldn't be taken to mean that the Broncos were disappointed with their draft, however.

While inside linebacker is an important position (that can wait until next year for a draft-based upgrade), Ayodele is a solid veteran. It would have been unlikely that the Broncos could have found solid help on the offensive line or for the receiving corps at this point in the offseason.

Akin is the older brother of the New Orleans Saints' defensive tackle Remi Ayodele.

Expect him to fit in nicely in the Denver defensive scheme this season nicely, as he has experience with the 3-4 in Miami. He also played in the scheme in Dallas.

In 2009, Ayodele finished with the third-highest tackles total of any player on the Dolphins (70), showing that as a ninth-season veteran, he will still have life.

He won't be a big-play guy (I don't expect a lot of forced fumbles), but as a workman linebacker, he's as good as it gets because of consistency and reliability.

Ayodele was released by the Miami Dolphins on March 5, 2010.