Pass or pursue: NFL Rumors are heating up over LA Rams trading Cam Akers to multiple NFL teams

The LA Rams are not playing coy about their interest in parting ways with veteran running back Cam Akers. It could not be more obvious that the team no longer has any interest in a long-term relationship with the veteran rusher. The only unknown right now is what will the LA Rams do with him

Will the LA Rams find a trade partner that is willing to give something of value to the LA Rams in exchange for AKers? Or, will other NFL teams play that game of chicken, wait for the LA Rams to release Akers, and then hope that they have the right pecking order on the NFL Waiver Wire priority to successfully claim him? Or do they believe that Akers will clear waivers, and allow his agent to negotiate with any NFL team?

I would not rely on that last scenario.

However LA Rams may or may not feel about Akers, or the value of the NFL running back position in general, Akers does hold some value for the right NFL team. He is inexpensive (he is still playing on his rookie contract). He has light usage (he has carried the football just 360 times, and played just 766 offensive snaps) over four NFL seasons. And he has the ability to put up lots of yards on the ground.

It's never an easy thing to assess the value to other NFL teams with a disgruntled player. And with a veteran running back who has triggered a 'We're done here,' response from the LA Rams, it's tough not to devalue Akers' worth to nothing. But, objectively speaking, other NFL teams may see Akers value in a more flattering light.

After all, Akers is a running back who can deliver but is just too inconsistent. Believe it or not, that's not common in the NFL right now. So which NFL teams are best suited for a running back like Cam Akers?

NFL Rumors: Which teams make sense to trade for Akers?

1. NFL Rumors: Nobody bit in 2022. What's changed?
2. NFL Rumors: Baltimore Ravens?
3. NFL Rumors: Minnesota Vikings?
4. NFL Rumors: Cleveland Browns?

NFL Rumors: Nobody bit in 2022. What's changed?

This is not the first time that the LA Rams and running back Cam Akers have had a chasm of viewpoints. It happened during the 2022 NFL season as well, when LA Rams head coach Sean McVay and running back Cam Akers butted heads to the point that Akers future with the Rams organization seemed to be at an end. (click this link here)

At that time, no team was willing to trade for Akers. After all, Akers had suffered a devastating Achilles Tendon injury in 2021, and he had not yet demonstrated the ability to run effectively with the football. Also, the timing of that dispute was such that many NFL teams believed that the LA Rams would simply run out of time before the 2022 NFL Trade Deadline expired, and the Rams would be forced to cut Akers.

That did not happen.

Instead, Rams head coach Sean McVay and running back Cam Akers reconciled, if only temporarily. That resolved, Akers was able to focus exclusively on carrying the football. Akers returned for 10 games and proceeded to finish out the final 10 games of the season with 137 carries, 635 yards, and six touchdowns. But best of all, he was able to string together three consecutive games of 100+ rushing yards

That late surge behind a makeshift offensive line placed him back on the radar of NFL teams once more:

So teams are asking about Akers. But there is a strong distinction to be made here. Ask any realtor about the difference between inquiries over a house for sale from nosey neighbors versus motivated buyers. RIght now, all we know is that teams are inquiring. So which teams could be motivated buyers?

NFL Rumors: Baltimore Ravens?

For an NFL team to have bonafide interest in adding a strong-willed rusher like Cam Akers, that team will need to have three characteristics:

1. First, that NFL team needs to possess a strong defense. That is necessary to avoid shooting matches, which almost instantly negates the ground game of any NFL team's offense
2. Secondly, that NFL team must boast a strong offensive line that is capable of opening up lanes consistently for running backs.
3. Thirdly, that NFL team must boast a balanced or run centric offensive playbook.

While the name of the modern NFL is the passing game, some teams continue to boast a strong rushing presence. Perhaps one team that has maintained a strong rushing presence despite the NFL trend to focus on a passing-centric playbook is the Baltimore Ravens. And right now, the Ravens are shopping for RB help after losing running back J.K. Dobbins for the season

Is Akers a solid option? At least one NFL analyst thinks so:

I tend to agree. The Ravens are a strong organization that is more than equipped to rein in Akers sometimes-problematic attitude. And their offense is certainly set up to keep feeding the football to running backs. Could the Raven trade for Akers? Perhaps, but we have more to consider.

Pass or Pursue? Pursue

NFL Rumors: Minnesota Vikings?

Whenever the LA Rams have an offensive player on the NFL Trade Block, or have an offensive player on an expiring contract, and are about to test their value in the NFL Free Agency Market, it only makes sense to consider any interest from the Minnesota Vikings. After all, Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell was the former offensive coordinator for the LA Rams.

So what is it about the Minnesota Vikings right now that warrants considering the addition of Rams RB Cam Akers? Well, for starters, it was not an idea that was even on my radar. But Cam Akers' name is certainly being tossed around on VIkings sites today. So how might that help them?

The consensus is that the Vikings will indeed add a running back in the days ahead. The question is, does O'Connell like Akers enough to have interest in adding him? Right now, many Minnesota VIkings blogging websites think that the answer is yes.

That may not be such a bad idea, after all. During Kevin O'Connell's tenure with the LA Rams as the offensive coordinator, he served as a buffer between McVay and the players. It was not until O'Connell was hired as the head coach of the Vikings that the relationship between the Rams and Akers devolved to the point of no return.

Pass or Pursue? Pursue

NFL Rumors: Cleveland Browns?

There have been a considerable number of inquiries so far this season to running backs. including the tragic season-ending injury to Cleveland Browns star running back Nick Chubb. Right now, the best course of action by the Browns front office is to act quickly.

And the truth of the matter is that the Browns can have LA Rams running back Cam Akers on a plane to Cleveland today if they have enough interest. But do they? Well, they should, and here's why:

The Cleveland Browns are in a very competitive AFC North Division, and at 1-1, they cannot hope to manage a playoff berth this year with the duo of Jerome Ford and Pierre Strong Jr. Even if the Browns coaching staff has every confidence in Ford, even he will need relief at times, and Strong is not ready for a larger role just yet.

And there sits LA Rams running back Cam Akers on the NFL Trade Block, who could be an ideal gap player for the Browns offense for the rest of the 2023 NFL season. Even if the Browns pick up the phone and agree to terms with the Rams today, Akers could not possibly be ready to suit up to face the Tennessee Titans in Week 3. But he could be set to face the Baltimore Ravens in Week 4, and most certainly be ready to face the San Francisco 49ers in Week 5.

The Browns could be a solid playoff team. but only if their roster is reinforced. As a bonus, the Cleveland Browns will face all four teams from the NFC West Division later this year. Cam Akers would be able to share great intel about those opponents. What is the value of an NFL Playoff appearance? If that value is better than a fifth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, then one of the teams name above should be making a trade with the LA Rams in the next 24-48 hours.

Pass or Pursue? Pursue

Stay tuned . . .