Recapping the best and worst LA Rams roster moves made in 2023

The ugly

The LA Rams and running back Cam Akers began their relationship in 2020, when the Rams added the fiesty Florida State ball carrier with the 52nd overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Standing 5-foot-10 and weighing 217 pounds, the running back showed tremendous promise in 2020, helping to carry the team into the Divisional Round of the 2021 NFL Playoffs. But an Achilles Tendon injury derailed him for most of 2021. In 2022, he got back on track, finishing the season strong and leading to hope that he would be a true feature back in 2023.

Only, he never became that runner in 2023.

I left out the part where he had an ongoing dispute with HC Sean McVay in 2022 that led to his benching, the release of RB Coach Ra'Shaad Samples to return to coaching football in college, and an eventual reconciliation with Akers that allowed him to return and resume carrying the football for the team.

When a similar dispute occurred again in 2023, the Rams acted swiftly to trade Akers to the Minnesota VIkings for draft pick swaps. So, off Akers goes. Now hold that thought, because it's about to get ugly.

One of the stipulations for the trade of Akers to the Vikings was the condition that Akers had to gain 500 combined yards for the VIkings in 2023 to trigger any compensation for the Rams. And it was clear that the VIkings had not intentions of allowing Akers to put up the yardage required to trigger any draft pick swap with the Rams.

Unfortunately, Cam Akers suffered another Achilles Tendon tear, which placed him on IR for the rest of 2023. Not only does he face a tremendous battle just to play football again, but the injury removed any doublt. The Rams invested a second round pick into Akers, and before his rookie contract expiried, the team has nothing to show for it.