4. DE Robert Ayers
EXPERIENCE: 7 years DRAFT: 1st round (15th overall) out of Tennessee
CAREER STARTS: 39 HONORS: None
’15 CAP HIT: $2.44 M PREDICTED ’16 CAP HIT: $6.1 M
LAST/BEST YEAR: 9 sacks; 41 tackles; 2 forced fumbles; 4 passes defensed
WHY THE BRONCOS COULD BE INTERESTED: For a long time, Robert Ayers was looked at like a bust in Denver, but that’s unfair. Ayers never put up big sack numbers, sure, but he was a real asset in the run game, and he continues to be.
As a pass rusher, though, Ayers is coming off a breakout season, where he put up nine sacks in just 12 games for the Giants. That type of production will earn Ayers a few extra dollars this offseason, but if Malik Jackson ends up leaving, the Broncos may be willing to pay the price.
