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Linebacker - Akeem Ayers, UCLA
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 254
40yd: 4.80
Interest Level:
Private Workout: Yes
Private Visit to Team Facility: Yes
Attended Proday: No
Other: -
Quick Take:
Ayers is a player who will likely benefit on draft day from his high number of flashy plays at UCLA, as a team captain and two year starter, but his best path to the NFL should probably be as a developmental project that is given time to grow into a role on the outside. Has very good football instincts that help him to get where he needs to be in a hurry, making him appear to be faster than he really is. His technical hand use when at the LOS isn't close to where it needs to be to make impact plays in the passing game from an OLB spot, but he has the versatility to move around a bit until he gets more comfortable. Will not be very effective sealing up running lanes that go outside the tackle until he gets some more strength on to his frame. With enough time, he will be a solid starter.
Where He Goes in the Draft:
Expect him to be overdrafted at the end of the first round.
What is Denver's Interest In Him?
Medium.
Denver put in their due diligence to get a handle on this guy, and now they just wait to see if he can fall to their positions in the 2nd round. #36 would be a tad early to consider him IMO, but at #46, he could be a plummeting value. With guys like Bruce Carter and Dontay Moch further down the board, Denver has no reason to move up for Ayers.
| Round | Position, Name | |
| CB Patrick Peterson | ||
| DT Marcell Dareus | ||
| QB Blaine Gabbert | ||
| Top | OLB/DE Von Miller | |
| DE Robert Quinn | ||
| DT Nick Fairley | ||
| 1 |
QB Cam Newton | |
| Middle | OT Nate Solder OT Anthony Costanzo DE Da'Quan Bowers DE Aldon Smith |
|
| Bottom | DT/NT Phil Taylor DE Adrian Clayborn OG/C Danny Watkins OLB Akeem Ayers |
|
| Top | ||
| 2 | Middle | |
| Bottom | ||
| Top | ||
| 3 | Middle | |
| Bottom | ||
| Top | ||
| 4 | Middle | |
| Bottom | ||
| 5 | Top | |
| Bottom | ||
| 6 | ||
| 7 |
[Note: All players in the table are ranked by overall grade within their round grouping, however, the round groupings are based on where this player will likely be drafted based on where teams are currently selecting in the draft. Therefore a player is ranked within a group by his level of ability, but players in nearby groupings may have higher or lower actual grades, despite being in a different group. Confusing enough for you? --Styg]