Vikings Free Agent Trying Out for the Saints
The NFL is about to enter the next phase of the offseason, as they are heading into mandatory minicamp week. As opposed to Organized Team Activities or OTAs, those are mandatory, and fines will occur if a player isn’t there.
Vikings Free Agent Trying Out for the Saints
One guy who won’t be fined because he is not under contract anywhere is running back Cam Akers. He will try to land on a roster this week as he will use minicamp to try out for the New Orleans Saints.
Saints reporter Nick Underhill declared Monday, “Cam Akers will be trying out for the Saints this week at minicamp, according to a league source. The running back spent last season with the Houston Texans and Minnesota Vikings.”
Indeed, the man spent part of the 2024 season in the Twin Cities, just like he did in 2023. It’s quite funny, but the purple franchise traded for the running back in consecutive seasons.
Akers’ Career
Akers came into the league as a 2020 second-rounder out of Florida State, and he showed flashes early in his career with the Rams. While preparing for his sophomore season, Akers suffered his first torn Achilles. Only five months later, he was back on the football field and returned for the final regular season game and the subsequent Super Bowl run.
In year three, he seemingly found himself in Sean McVay’s doghouse, and the Vikes provided him with a way out.
After trading for him the first time, in his first year with the Vikings, he slowly got more run as the season progressed, but he suffered another torn Achilles halfway through the year. Typically, suffering two injuries of this magnitude would be fatal for a running back’s career. Last season, he surprisingly returned in time for the preseason, which he spent with the Texans. As the trade deadline approached, the Vikings acquired him once again, and he was a solid backup for Aaron Jones.
In 18 games with the Vikings over two seasons, Akers logged 435 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while adding another 21 catches for 122 yards and two more touchdowns. The numbers aren’t mind-blowing, but they show that he still has something left in the tank.
Saints RB squad
The Saints still employ 2017 draftee and standout player Alvin Kamara, who once ruined Skol Nation’s Christmas a few years back. He’s getting older, though, so finding guys who can take some load off him is key.
Kendre Miller, an unimpressive 2023 draft pick and former Chiefs draft bust Clyde Edwards-Helaire, are joined by rookies Devin Neal and Marcus Yarns.
It’s not hard to imagine Akers claiming the RB2 role in that room, although those young players could take a step forward.
The Vikings still have some room
The Vikings could still be an option for Akers should the Saints decide to go in a different direction. Of course, Akers will drop a spot from last year because of Jordan Mason’s presence, but he would still land ahead of Ty Chandler, whose job he stole in back-to-back seasons.
If the club wants to upgrade the RB3 spot, Akers is a perfect candidate because he has a history with Kevin O’Connell dating back to his Rams days and knows most of his teammates.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.
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