As things stand, the Vikings haven’t re-signed RB Cam Akers. How long can the team holdout?
The veteran runner is a free agent. As a result, he’s a mere phone call away. New GM Nolan Teasley has already done some work: welcome receivers, show front office talent the door, and hire some new top lieutenants. How about making a move for the runner who has been added in 2023, 2024, and 2025? After all, Akers and Teasley were in Seattle last year for the Lombardi Trophy.
The Vikings and Cam Akers Seem Inevitable
Last year, Cam Akers tossed a touchdown pass as a Minnesota Viking. Check it out:
The play’s primary ingredient is deception. Akers is lined up in Wildcat, a formation where the runner takes a direct snap before quickly showing run. Even the fella who ends up catching the ball — Josh Oliver — is part of the deception since he gets tasked with blocking more than catching.
Watch how the defenders to the top of the screen all get sucked up in the early moments of the play. Akers sells run before finding a wide open Oliver. Perfection. Not bad for a practice squad runner, eh?
Maybe re-adding a player with that sort of versatility makes sense.
Originally, Akers became a Viking in 2023. Doing so meant offering a late-round pick swap to the Rams to snag the solid veteran. He then was allowed to get away after the season before becoming a trade target yet again, being reacquired in 2024 via trade. Twice trading for the same player — and in consecutive years — is an odd bit of trivia.
In 2025, the recipe was a touch different, seeing Akers snagged and stashed on the practice squad for a rainy day. After the three freebie elevations took place, the Vikings moved on. Akers then went to Seattle. Winning the Super Bowl alongside Nolan Teasley can only helps Akers’ chances of returning to the Twin Cities.
Minnesota’s RB room looks as follows:
- RB1 Aaron Jones
- RB2 Jordan Mason
- RB3 Demond Claiborne (Read More)
- RB4 Zavier Scott
- RB5 Kejon Owens
Expanding the parameters of who qualifies as a running back would mean looping Max Bredeson into the mix, the rookie fullback who appears ready to play an important role for Minnesota. Not too much room for another runner in that cluster of talent, folks.
But while Minnesota isn’t planning on needing another runner, Akers commonly finds himself functioning as an injury replacement. At what point does proactively adding him become the move rather than waiting for something to go wrong?
Signing Akers as a free agent means getting him on a deal that requires only a (modest) financial commitment and no draft pick in a trade.
The 5’10” and 215-pound runner is going to turn 27 in June. Akers went in the 2nd of the 2020 NFL Draft and has since won a pair of Super Bowls. He has done so after proving to be quite resilient, overcoming really difficult injuries to still find his way toward helping teams to win.
His career has involved 507 carries for 2,044 yards and 13 touchdowns. As a receiver, Akers has tossed up 52 catches for 388 yards and 4 touchdowns. Other than the Rams and Vikings, Akers has played for the Seahawks, Saints, and Texans.
