NFL trade rumors are swirling around Los Angeles running back Cam Akers; 3 best fits for fourth-year running back.
The Los Angeles Rams arebreaking ties with Cam Akers and “a handful of teams” are already blowing up the phones for a potential trade for the fourth year running back. Which NFL team will emerge as the favorites? We’ll look at the 3 best fits as 2023 continues to be the year of the NFL running back.
Entering the final year of his rookie deal, Akers future with the Rams was already in question given his contract situation and the direction of the team. After a healthy scratch in the team’s Week 2 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, Rams head coach Sean McVay sent a clear statement that the team plans on cutting ties with the 2020 second-round pick.
Despite Cam Akers expressing his surprise about the decision on social media, McVay offered a different side of the story in addressing the Akers situation.
"“I feel very good about the clarity that was provided to him on Friday and Saturday, both through he and [agent] David Mulugheta,” McVay said during his media session on Monday. “And that’s unfortunate, but I feel like it was very clear in regards to our dialogue.”"
Whether it was miscommunication or Akers attempt to create a different narrative, it is obvious a fresh start is needed for the player and the team. The Rams are already moving forward by making it public their plans to part ways with Akers. While both sides worked things out in the middle of the season in 2022, the Rams head coach went on to say that reconciliation won’t be the conclusion this time around.
"“That won’t be an opportunity,” McVay continued. “It’ll be an opportunity to be able to move – I feel good about the opportunity to be able to move him, but we won’t go back and forth on it.”"
So, even if a trade does not emerge, McVay put it out there that there is no turning back. Akers will be either traded or released. The likely scenario is that he is trade and here are 3 teams at the top of the heap to land Cam Akers.
Cam Akers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers fit
As reported by the Score’s Jordan Schultz on Tuesday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are one of the teams who have already called the Rams expressing interest in Cam Akers. This comes after backup running back Chase Edmonds suffered an injury on Sunday that will likely have him out 4-6 weeks.
With the Buccaneers off to a 2-0 start, the team will look to fill that backup running back void and Akers would be a natural possibility in that scenario and an affordable one as it should take a mid to late-round pick to land the Rams running back who is on his rookie deal.
The Buccaneers have Rachaad White as the featured back and could opt to bring back Leonard Fournette or turn to free agent Kareem Hunt as options, but Akers would ideally be a better option given his age.
Although Akers has yet to rush for 1,000 yards in a season, he is a tough back with a combination of speed and agility that makes him tough to tackle and productive when healthy and engaged. A change of scenery to a place like Tampa Bay where he would be a viable backup could be the perfect opportunity for Akers to increase his value in the NFL.
In all, a trade scenario that has benefit for both teams, but there are two AFC North teams that may serve as better overall opportunities for Cam Akers. With both teams, Akers would have an opportunity to be the featured back or at least compete for the opportunity.
Cam Akers and the Baltimore Ravens fit
The Baltimore Ravens were another team listed as engaging the Los Angeles Rams with interest over Akers.
Another 2-0 team in the NFL, the Ravens are looking for some running back reinforcement following the season-ending injury to J.K. Dobbins. Ironically, Dobbins was in a similar contract situation as Akers but decided to play through the season.
Similar in size, Akers would obviously fill the void left by Dobbins and possibly more as he will get a fresh start with a team known for their offensive physicality. With Dobbins on IR, the Ravens currently have Justice Hill as the No. 1 back along with Gus Edwards who is coming off a game against the Cincinnati Bengals in which he rushed for 62 yards on 10 carries.
Want your voice heard? Join the NFL Mocks team!
While Hill and Edwards can run the ball, Akers would not only add depth, but wouldn’t he look good in purple and black? He seems to have Ravens written all over him given his physical style of running and also his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield.
The question raised with Akers is what else is going on that has a coach like McVay ready to dump him? Can Akers fit with the Ravens as well in the lockerroom as well as on the field? That is something all teams interested in Akers will explore before adding him to the team. If it is just a fresh start and a new opportunity, Baltimore should be a front runner, but don’t rule out their AFC North foe.
Cam Akers and the Cleveland Browns fit
The Cleveland Browns are at the top of the list because like the Ravens, they are also a physical offensive team that loves to pound the rock.
Following the season-ending injury to Nick Chubb, the Browns are searching for a back to fill that void for the rest of the season. With backup running back Jerome Ford serving as the featured back, it would be ideal for the Browns to add depth at the very least at the position.
Akers fills that void because of his featured back ability and physical style of running. The Browns have reportedly had Kareem Hunt in for a visit as of Tuesday, but Akers is a better option at his point in his career.
While there is a need for all the teams listed, neither team is in desperation mode at the position in this point in the season. Each team, particularly the Browns could wait it out for a potential Jonathan Taylor trade or just wait for the Buccaneers to release Akers and attempt to sign him as a free agent.
The Browns saw Ford rush for 106 yards on Monday night, so he at least deserves his opportunity, but Cleveland is another situation and opportunity where Cam Akers could get a fresh start and a revival.