Sources: Vikings’ Next Free Agent Move Coming
It will happen soon, perhaps in a matter of days.
Sources: Vikings’ Next Free Agent Move Coming
Two sources tell VikingsTerritory that the Minnesota Vikings are on the verge of re-signing Cam Akers, who spent most of the 2023 campaign in Minnesota. His season was undone by an Achilles tear in a game at the Atlanta Falcons last November, but Akers helped add running back depth for a couple of months last year.
Now, with his injury recovery mostly in the books, Akers’ reunion in Minnesota nears. The rumor picked up steam last weekend, courtesy of the Pioneer Press. Charley Walters wrote Sunday, “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.”
Sources indicate the physical is trending in the right direction, and the Vikings will soon have a new RB3.
For context, these are Minnesota’s RBs as of July 2nd:
- Aaron Jones
- Ty Chandler
- Kene Nwangwu
- DeWayne McBride
- Myles Gaskin
Assuming his return to health is legitimate and longstanding, adding Akers back as RB3 hedges the bet against injury to Jones and Chandler. And that’s the knock on Jones at this stage of his career — injury. When Jones is healthy, he’s marvelous, but he didn’t fire up a full season in 2023.
Akers joined Minnesota via trade in September, a depth piece to the Vikings’ running backs behind Alexander Mattison and the aforementioned Chandler. Altogether, he notched 49 touches for 208 yards from scrimmage. He even scored the Vikings’ first rushing touchdown of the season — in Week 9. Yes, it took that long.
Vikings fans have wondered for a few months if the team would add another running back, mainly because of Aaron Jones’ age and injury history. Jones will turn 30 in December, and injuries marred the first half of his 2023 campaign. Akers would provide Minnesota a bit more oomph in the event of a Jones or Chandler injury.
The Vikings ranked 27th leaguewide per rushing DVOA in 2023, a disappointing finish after emphasizing ground-game improvement all last offseason. Eyeing 2024, the Vikings will presumably prioritize improvement again in that aspect of the offense, and signing Akers cannot hurt.
Akers is a Kevin O’Connell holdover from the Los Angeles Rams days. The two even won a Super Bowl together in 2021, the event that sprang O’Connell into the Vikings’ top job.
The veteran runner turned 25 last month and has scored 12 touchdowns in 36 career games.
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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