The Giants are turning into Broncos East.
Big Blue continued to poach the defending AFC champion Wednesday, adding former Denver defensive end Robert Ayers.
Ayers, along with cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, is the second prominent Broncos defender to join the Giants since free agency began three weeks ago. The Giants also recently signed former Denver kick returner Trindon Holliday.
“It definitely helps to be here with familiar faces,” Ayers said in a statement released by the Giants. “You kind of blend in together and find your niche and link up with guys of your liking and similarities.”
The 6-foot-3, 274-pound Ayers also has played outside linebacker in his career and will help the Giants make up for the recent free-agency loss of Justin Tuck to the Raiders along their defensive front.
A first-round pick in 2009 by Denver who had a career-high 5 ¹/₂ sacks last season, Ayers also is the 13th veteran who played for another team last season to join the Giants since free agency began March 11.
The Giants have been the NFL’s most active team in free agency after missing the playoffs for the fourth time in five years. The team also has retained 10 of its own free agents.
Ayers, 28, is the second free agent signed in as many days by the Giants, who added ex-Saints offensive tackle Charles Brown on Tuesday. The two signings came despite co-owner John Mara’s saying last week the Giants were “pretty much done” adding free agents.
Ayers never lived up to his first-round pedigree in Denver, recording just 12 sacks and three fumble recoveries in 72 regular-season games. But Ayers had his moments with the Broncos, including a sack of Tom Brady in the AFC Championship Game this year.
That was followed by the Broncos’ ugly, 43-8 loss to the Seahawks in Super Bowl XLVIII at Ayers’ new home, MetLife Stadium.
“Painful isn’t a strong enough word to describe that game,” Ayers said of the Super Bowl. “Other than the death of family, that’s the only thing — it’s not that bad, but it was the next-worse thing.
“It’s a tough feeling, but it’s only motivation for the future. I’ll be able to redeem myself for at least the next two years in this stadium, so I’m looking forward to it.”
Ayers attended the University of Tennessee, but grew up in Hudson County, N.J., including a year spent at Hoboken High School. He estimated 70 percent of his family still lives in New Jersey.
“It’s going to be good to be able to play closer to family,” Ayers said. “The last five years were in Denver, they didn’t really get to see me play much other than on TV.”