Akeem Ayers

The Patriots acquired linebacker Akeem Ayers from the Tennessee Titans. According to CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora, the Patriots will send a sixth-round pick to the Titans in exchange for Ayers and a seventh-round pick. The Titans drafted Ayers in the second round (39th overall) of the 2011 NFL draft, and the UCLA product spent the first three years of his career as a starting strong-side linebacker. Ayers has spent most of his time on the bench this season, inactive for five of the team's seven games, as the team has switched from a 4-3 to a 3-4 defense. With that being said, one has to wonder how much of a fit Ayers will be for the Patriots if they continue to run a 3-4 as their base defense. But the Patriots are dangerously thin at the position, and only have four true linebackers (not special teams players or hybrid defensive ends) healthy after they lost linebacker Jerod Mayo for the season to a torn patellar tendon. Ayers would know a thing or two about patellar tendon

Fantasy Impact

With injuries hitting the Patriots linebackers, the defense is in need of help. Ayers is a low risk acquisition who gives the team needed depth.