Patriots land a starting linebacker from Titans for practically nothing

The Tennessee Titans have agreed to trade linebacker Akeem Ayers and a seventh-round draft pick to the New England Patriots for a sixth-round pick, according to ESPN. 

The deal is pending a physical, the source said. The 6-foot-3, 255-pound Ayers has been inactive for five of the Titans’ seven games this season. The Titans liked the idea of getting bigger when they drafted him in the second round out of UCLA in 2011. In the 4-3 defense run by the previous coaching staff, he was an outside linebacker the team constantly talked of using as a pass-rushing end.

This is a huge steal for the Patriots, who will find a way to make him work in their defensive scheme.