FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- A few thoughts on the New England Patriots agreeing to a trade with the Tennessee Titans for linebacker Akeem Ayers, pending a physical (you can find the Titans' perspective here):
Low-risk, depth-based move. Last year, when the Patriots acquired defensive tackle Isaac Sopoaga at the trade deadline, we probably went a bit too strong in the impact the move could have on the team. We'll be a bit more cautious this time with Ayers and sum it up this way: If he passes his physical, it's worth a flier as a low-cost, depth-based move with some potential upside for more. The cost is cheap -- a sixth-round draft choice in exchange for Ayers and a seventh-rounder, per ESPN.com Titans reporter Paul Kuharsky.
Ayers' knee injuries. Ayers underwent surgery on both knees this offseason to repair his patellar tendons. John Glennon of the Tennessean had detailed those surgeries in a June article, and that is important background when considering the deal is pending a physical.
Where Ayers possibly fits. One NFL executive projected Ayers to a strong-side linebacker role in New England. If Ayers emerges in a front-line role, which isn't a given, it could provide more flexibility to move Dont'a Hightower to the middle to help fill the void created by Jerod Mayo's season-ending right knee injury. The 6-foot-3, 255-pound Ayers has experience playing both on and off the line of scrimmage and had been used as a designated pass-rusher at times in the NFL and at UCLA. Such athleticism and versatility is often appealing to Bill Belichick. As for why the Titans are moving on, Ayers was buried on the depth chart and might have gotten caught up in a scheme change with a new coaching staff.
Addresses area of limited depth. The Patriots were thin at linebacker before Mayo was lost for the season, and this move adds a more experienced option to the mix as he appeared in all 16 regular-season games in each of his first three seasons in the NFL (43 starts). After top on-the-line players Chandler Jones and Rob Ninkovich and off-the-line players Dont'a Hightower and Jamie Collins, the Patriots had very little experience. Ayers changes that, with the Patriots hoping a change of scenery brings out the best in the 2011 second-round pick who had fallen out of favor in Tennessee and is in the last year of his contract.