The Rams’ Cam Akers drama escalated quickly, and the team is preparing to end it with a separation. The defending Super Bowl champions are exploring a move that will give the third-year running back a fresh start elsewhere, Sean McVay said Monday.
An unspecified issue emerged between Akers and the Rams late last week, leading to the team’s starting running back being a healthy scratch in Week 6. Akers, 23, is believed to have a football-related issue with the Rams, and McVay said (via ESPN.com’s Sarah Barshop, on Twitter).there will “probably” be a transaction made that allows Akers to land with another team soon.
That said, McVay stopped short of guaranteeing the former second-round pick will depart, Eric Williams of Fox Sports notes (via Twitter). But the team is already engaging in exploratory conversations about dealing Akers.
The Florida State product missed two practices late last week for personal reasons, per the Rams, and it later came out on-field matters have divided these parties. Akers’ rookie contract runs through 2023. Philosophical differences are believed to have split McVay and Akers, who has not returned to his pre-Achilles-tear form. The Rams asked Akers not to show for practice Thursday and Friday, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk notes.
Akers suffered the tear early during Los Angeles’ 2021 training camp and made a quicker-than-expected comeback, allowing for postseason contributions. Those contributions proved minimal, however, and Akers (3.0 yards per carry, albeit behind a battered Rams offensive line) has not shown much during his third season. This obviously stands to dent his trade value, though Ian Rapoport of NFL.com notes (video link) trade interest has surfaced already.
As a rookie, however, Akers amassed 625 yards on 143 carries. He then logged 28 totes for 131 yards and a touchdown in the Rams’ wild-card win over the Seahawks. Akers was tracking to be L.A.’s starter to open last season, but his injury prompted the Rams to go with Darrell Henderson and trade acquisition Sony Michel. Akers’ return late last year preceded the Rams letting Michel walk in free agency. Henderson, who is in a contract year, will reside as the team’s top back. Akers still started ahead of the former third-round pick for most of this season, and this strange halt to his Rams career certainly proves interesting.
Did Cam hit on McVey’s wife?
“Philosophical differences” sounds like a terrific explanation until you realize there probably isn’t a player in the NFL that went to college on a philosophy scholarship.
I Kant believe that to be true. Besides, aren’t you putting Descartes before the horse?
Are you Dunne now?
Maybe, but that’s not a Locke.
Arendt you tired of the joke?
Good stuff. I tend to favor Woody Allen’s “I am at two with nature” philosophy.
Yeah. But the philosophy issues didn’t entail him not accepting and cashing his checks though
lol, you always hate on the players. He didn’t bench himself.
But he’s not wrong. And does anyone actually cash checks anymore?
Am I the only one thinking a Christian McCaffrey to LA for Akers and picks deal could work?
Not a bad idea but 2 first rounders Akers and probably some defensive player would have to be included
Which they don’t have….good luck with that.
Carolina seems to collect broken quarterbacks to finish off behind that turnstile offensive line of theirs. Matt Stafford + Cam Akers for Christian McCaffrey and call it even.
No way would it be two first rounders with Akers. Carolina understands it’ll be lucky to get one. Two day two picks are likely (2nd & 3rd) if Rams have cap room for McCaffrey.
Only if the Rams are throwing in a unicorn and a map to the end of the rainbow, where a pot of gold can be found.
Sarcasm aside… I don’t think even CMC would work out in LA with that offensiveline.
They need to try and trade him and picks for immediate help on the O-line, and proceed with Henderson.
Yeh, all these Rams fans who think its more important or possible to import McCaffrey assuming they can hoodwink the Panthers into taking a less than fair offer (no high enough draft picks, and nobody wants Akers), while their offensive line will keep Stafford on his back through the season are delusional at best.
Thinking the exact same thing
Why would the panthers want Akers? So he can tell the idiot owner that he can also be the interim coach as well as the starting RB?
No way. RBs are a dime a dozen these days. Drafted after the first round and thrown away and replaced when there rookie contract expires.
Would take a lot more than that
“RBs are a dime a dozen these days.” … “Would take a lot more than that” ummm isnt CMC a running back drafted in these days? It was what 4 years ago?
While i believe it will cost more there are other factors to consider. He only played 10 games out of the last possible 33, he has a huge contract, and is probably coming into a worse offensive line than the panthers. So that will hurt the value back some.
This trade will also basically kill whatever cap you have left if not put you over unless they send more contracts over or restructure contracts kicking money down the road. Also they barely have picks as it is for next year. with only 2 2nd day picks (a 2nd and 3rd) and the rest are 6th and down.
personally i see packers 49ers or philly as more likelier places as they have healthy cap space and/or picks and potentially a very good rb with their back up rb going back
The Packers need receivers, but they’re good on running backs.
They have been lining up running backs as receivers many times with both dillon and aaron in there with one on the outside. For wear and tear purposes, might be best to keep CMC on the field and use him more in Deebo type role with being more a receiver especially on wr screens and occasional carries unless there is an injury to aaron or dillon.
Great idea. McCaffrey will last many more snaps dodging DB’s than steamrolling defensive tackles. Any team who runs McCaffrey between the tackles at this point deserves to have to pay him not to play (injured reserve).
I know they’ve been lining up backs as receivers, but it isn’t helping them move the ball downfield, which is what they need. McCaffrey wouldn’t either.
Akers’ numbers are pedestrian at best. The Rams would LOVE to trade him for a pick, as he’s worth next to nothing.
Exactly. A seventh rd 2025 pick at best
Rams will be able to move him for a pick. Rams offensive line is abysmal and he isn’t far removed from major injury. No RB would look great behimd that line, except for maybe prime Barry.