Credit: Icon SMI

Strengths: Good height with a solid frame and strong lower body...really closes when he gets a path to the QB...exhibits good awareness...productive senior season...uses his hands well...fights through traffic...versatile, bigger defensive end type...powerful and can surprise blockers with his suddenness...offers a lot of upside...

Weaknesses: One year wonder...some questions about his motor...huge off the field issues and durability issues early in his career...lacks the elite speed and burst to become a dominate pass rusher...too demonstrative at times...not a natural pass rusher and never has put up big sack totals...

Overall: Entering the 2008 season, Robert Ayers was a fringe prospect at best. After a season where he was consistently in the backfield and finished with 15.5 tackles for a loss, combined with a strong Senior Bowl performance, he looks like a first day pick. He was arrested for assault early in his career at Tennessee, but by all accounts he learned from those events and became a team leader. However, there is a big concern about any player who was truly productive for only one year, but Ayers’ strength and ability to play multiple positions on the line is intriguing. He is a bit of a high risk pick, while offering starting quality upside.