Questions Answered: Cam Akers, Vikings’ Worst Offseason Decision, Turning Heads at Training Camp
The following questions are about current Minnesota Vikings topics, answered by VikingsTerritory. Today is the July 8th edition, addressed in a from-the-hip fashion. If you have questions, please email them to [email protected].
Questions Answered: Cam Akers, Vikings’ Worst Offseason Decision, Turning Heads at Training Camp
Also, please note: These are opinion-based responses. Some answers will be incorrect from time to time. But we’ll try to keep that to a minimum.
Q: Is Cam Akers on the Vikings right now, or what? I’m seeing conflicting reports.
Answer: Officially? We lean no.
If you believe the NFL’s official transaction wire, the answer is no. Also, Vikings.com has no mention of Akers at the moment.
However, curiously, ESPN’s “Transactions” page claims Minnesota signed Akers last week, pending a physical.
Pioneer Press’ Charley Walters wrote on June 30th, “If running back Cam Akers, recovering from Achilles surgery last November, passes an upcoming physical, look for the free agent to re-sign with the Vikings.” Tucked in that article about other Minnesota sports-themed tidbits, the news of Akers’ imminent return rapidly spread.
It’s just that no other entities have published or tweeted anything about Akers-to-the-Vikings as official.
Akers will likely be a part of the 2024 Vikings, but we believe ESPN somehow jumped the gun.
Q: In your opinion, what was the Vikings’ worst offseason decision?
Answer: We might’ve been asked this already in the last few months — but not targeting a proven defensive tackle for the spot next to Harrison Phillips.
These DTs were scheduled to hit free agency this offseason:
- Arik Armstead
- Calais Campbell
- Shelby Harris
- Maurice Hurst
- Sheldon Rankins
- D.J. Reader
- Grover Stewart
- Christian Wilkins
- Leonard Williams
Minnesota signed none and ended up with Jerry Tillery. Now, four months later, the Vikings have around $26 million in cap space. One can’t help but wonder why the front office didn’t make a stronger push for a big-name defensive tackle, particularly after it knew Danielle Hunter would leave.
Instead, Minnesota signed Tillery, Jonah Williams, James Lynch, Jalen Redmond, and re-upped with Jonathan Bullard.
We would’ve preferred Armstead, for example.
Q: Name three players who will turn heads at Vikings training camp.
A: Gabriel Murphy (OLB), Will Reichard (K), and Robert Tonyan (TE)
Murphy won’t be quite as good as Ivan Pace Jr. last year, but he’ll prove to folks that he should’ve been drafted. Reichard already looks like a stud. And then Tonyan will win the TE1 job in T.J. Hockenson’s presumed absence (recovering from a torn ACL).
Others will emerge, but give us those three as a starter kit.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His MIN obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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