FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Patriots announced that they have acquired LB Akeem Ayers in a trade with the Tennessee Titans. Trade terms were not disclosed.
In addition, the Patriots released LB Ja'Gared Davis.
Ayers, 25, has been with the Titans since being drafted in the second round (39th overall) of the 2011 NFL Draft out of UCLA. He 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.
Davis, 24, was signed from the practice squad to the 53-man roster on Oct. 4, 2014. He was signed to the practice squad after being released at the end of training camp. Davis spent the majority of his rookie season in 2013 on the Patriots' practice squad, but did see action in one regular-season game and both postseason games after joining the 53-man roster. 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.
