Akeem Ayers Traded to Patriots: Latest Details, Reaction and Analysis

The Tennessee Titans and New England Patriots have agreed on a deal that will send linebacker Akeem Ayers to New England. The Patriots announced the deal on Wednesday:

Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean first reported the deal, with Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports noting the Patriots will send a sixth-round pick to Tennessee and also receive a seventh rounder to facilitate the deal:

Christopher Price of WEEI provided Patriots head coach Bill Belichick's thoughts on the deal:

NFL teams have until Oct. 28 to complete all trades. The Patriots acquire Ayers just days after division rival New York Jets pulled off a much more high-profile acquisition, trading for talented wide receiver Percy Harvin.

While Ayers is unlikely to generate as many headlines, his arrival in New England is not without import. The Patriots are dealing with myriad injuries to their linebacking corps, most notably Pro Bowler Jerod Mayo. Mayo will miss the remainder of the season after tearing his ACL in Week 6's win over the Buffalo Bills, pushing Dont'a Hightower into a more prominent role.

Prior to acquiring Ayers, the Patriots had only four healthy linebackers on their roster. The likes of undrafted rookie Deontae Skinner have been thrust into surprisingly high-priority roles, which has worked out just fine for now but could become an issue as the season goes along. The Patriots already worked out five linebackers last week following Mayo's injury, per ESPN's Field Yates.

Wesley Hitt/Getty Images

Ayers, a 2011 second-round pick, should help add experience and depth to the unit. The former UCLA standout has shown occasional flashes in his three-plus seasons with the Titans but has gone through a nightmare 2014 campaign under coach Ken Whisenhunt. He struggled to make a transition to coordinator Ray Horton's preferred 3-4 system, eventually getting buried deep in Tennessee's outside linebacker rotation.

"Just because I am not walking around here ticked off and tearing everything up doesn't mean I am comfortable with my situation," Ayers told Wyatt earlier this month. "I am not comfortable with not playing. I want to play. I am a competitor, and I want to compete. So just because I am not carrying myself a certain way doesn't mean I don't care."

Ayers has made only three tackles without a sack this season. According to Football Outsiders, he has been on the field for only 10 defensive snaps and has appeared in just two games. In 2012, Ayers' best career season, he made 104 tackles and had six sacks.

"

Akeem Ayers is a legit talent. Was out #4 ranked OLB last year. Perhaps best in a Von Miller type role. Fit in NE intriguing to watch

— Pro Football Focus (@PFF) October 21, 2014"

At just 25 years old, it's possible the Patriots are buying low on a guy who becomes a key contributor for their stretch run. With Ayers' rookie scale contract ending after this season, it's likely we'll find out sooner than later.

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