Ex-Viking Now Has Clear Path to Yet Another Minnesota Return

The Minnesota Vikings made a big trade on Sunday afternoon when they sent Sam Howell to the Philadelphia Eagles. The deal, which gave Minnesota a 2026 fifth-round pick and a 2027 seventh-round pick, gave Kwesi Adofo-Mensah the draft capital that could be used to trade for a wide receiver in the coming days.

But Vikings fans may have joked, “When are we trading for Cam Akers?”

The Vikings have traded for Akers in each of the past two seasons and the late-round conditional pick swap that occurred in both deals has been a humorous detail of Adofo-Mensah’s tenure. But with roster cutdown day approaching, Akers has a much easier path if the Vikings GM wants to bring him back to Minnesota in 2025.

Saints Release Former Vikings RB Cam Akers

According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the New Orleans Saints released Akers on Monday morning. Akers was in his first season with the team, battling for a spot in a running back room that included Kendre Miller, Velus Jones Jr. and Clyde Edwards-Helaire as depth options behind star Alvin Kamara. But the 26-year-old was unable to impress in the preseason, logging 16 yards on eight carries.

It’s unclear where Akers could end up next as he looks to continue his career, but the Vikings would be a good bet. A second-round pick by the Los Angeles Rams in the 2020 draft, Akers originally was traded to Minnesota during the 2023 season and ran for 138 yards and a touchdown on 38 carries before tearing his left Achilles tendon.

Akers was close to re-signing with the Vikings before the 2024 season but ultimately left for the Houston Texans. The stay in Houston didn’t last long as the Vikings traded for him again last September and he logged 64 carries for 297 yards and a touchdown in 12 games.

While the history is there, the Vikings may not have the need that they had in previous years. Aaron Jones was brought back as the team’s starting running back on a two-year deal and the Vikings acquired Jordan Mason in a trade with the San Francisco 49ers last March. Zavier Scott also shined this preseason with 22 carries for 96 yards and figures to have won the No. 3 job over Ty Chandler.

Unless the Vikings want more experience behind Jones and Mason, it’s unlikely that Akers will return for a third tour in Minnesota. But now that Minnesota doesn’t have to give up anything to acquire him, maybe he’ll return for a stint on the practice squad to keep the tradition going.