Vikings RB Picks the Saints from Free Agency
He finally made his decision.
One ex-Vikings playmaker is on the move to the New Orleans Saints, joining a crowded depth chart for 2025.
Former Minnesota Vikings running back Cam Akers has chosen the New Orleans Saints for his 2025 place of employment after a successful audition at New Orleans’ mandatory minicamp.
It’s a done deal for Akers, who will turn 26 next week.
Cam Akers to the Saints
ESPN’s Katherine Terrell wrote Friday, “The New Orleans Saints on Friday signed running back Cam Akers to a one-year deal following a tryout at minicamp this week. Akers, who turns 26 in June, was a second-round pick by the Los Angeles Rams in 2020. He spent the first three seasons of his career in Los Angeles before being traded to the Minnesota Vikings in 2023. Akers signed with the Houston Texans last season and had a second stint with the Vikings after he was traded to Minnesota midseason last fall.”
“Akers signed with the Houston Texans last season and had a second stint with the Vikings after he was traded to Minnesota midseason last fall. He rushed for 625 yards and two touchdowns in his rookie season, and he had 131 rushing yards and a touchdown in the Rams’ win against the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC wild-card round that year.”
It’s a fresh start for Akers, hoping to latch on as New Orleans’ RB2 or RB3 this fall.
A Crowded Horse at RB for New Orleans
Signing this late in the offseason indicates Akers must vie for a 53-man roster spot. Nothing is given.
Here’s the Saints’ RB room with the Akers addition:
- Alvin Kamara
- Kendre Miller
- Devin Neal
- Cam Akers
- Clyde Edwards-Helaire
- Velus Jones Jr.
- Xazavian Valladay
- Marcus Yarns
Last year, New Orleans kept three running backs, along with fullback Adam Prentice and hybrid commodity Taysom Hill. That depth chart, though, was created by former head coach Dennis Allen. Kellen Moore is now in charge.
Vikings Offseason Theory Dead
Many purple and gold fans believed the team either would or should sign Akers outright. After all, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has traded for Akers in consecutive seasons — why not sign him from free agency and skip the trade aspect in September or October?
No cigar.
Instead, after Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason on Minnesota’s depth chart, it’s Ty Chandler, Tre Stewart, and Zavier Scott. For some reason or another, Akers is not a part of the 2025 strategy.
All Former Vikings on New Orleans’ Roster
Akers is the first former Vikings player on the Saints’ 90-man roster this offseason, although New Orleans tried out defensive tackle Jonathan Bullard a couple of weeks ago. Kellen Moore and Co. also employ Scott Linehan as a senior offensive assistant, and he offensively coordinated the Vikings for three seasons in the 2000s.
Moreover, former Vikings safety Robert Blanton is New Orleans’ assistant defensive backs coach.
Saints-Themed Media on Cam Akers
SaintsWire‘s Bob Rose on Akers to New Orleans: “Over his five years in the NFL, Akers has averaged four yards per carry while picking up 2,025 rushing yards. He’s added 388 more as a receiver on 52 catches and has scored a total of 17 touchdowns. Akers has been hampered by injuries and never was able to secure a featured backfield role. However, he has excellent power between the tackles and good burst into the second level of a defense.”
“Over his five years in the NFL, Akers has averaged four yards per carry while picking up 2,025 rushing yards. He’s added 388 more as a receiver on 52 catches and has scored a total of 17 touchdowns. Akers has been hampered by injuries and never was able to secure a featured backfield role. However, he has excellent power between the tackles and good burst into the second level of a defense.”
Akers Personally on the Fit
Akers said at New Orleans’ minicamp last week: “I’m still hungry and I’m young. I’ve got a lot of tread on my tires, and I want to rewrite my story personally. I’m blessed to be able to have this opportunity. I’ve been through a lot in my career. I can’t let it affect these type of opportunities. So I’m coming out and having my head on right and attacking these opportunities.”
“My family is right down the road, good food, Southern hospitality. So it’s a home away from home. I like the atmosphere here. The players and I can come in and compete. I can learn from AK. Everything is on me. The opportunity is there, but it’s on me to come in and attack. That’s pretty much all I can do. So that’s what I’m doing, and hopefully we can get something rolling.”
New Orleans ranked 14th last year per rushing DVOA.
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