The Los Angeles Rams finally pulled the trigger on the Cam Akers trade three years into his fledgling NFL career. This move was a long time coming, and some folks might even say that it has been long overdue. Whatever the case may be, the running back is now officially a member of the Minnesota Vikings, where he will look to revive his career amid a fresh start.
Los Angeles Rams HC Sean McVay Weighs in on Cam Akers Trade
Rams head coach Sean McVay has now spoken out about the trade, and the Super Bowl-winning shot-caller had nothing but good things to say about his now-former RB. When asked by the press to discuss the motivation behind the deal, McVay got brutally honest in his response:
“Sometimes you have to be able to make tough decisions and I’m very grateful for the things that Cam did over the course of his career,” McVay said, via Mike Florio of PFT. “I’m always going to make decisions that I think are in the best interest of the football team and that’s not a personal indictment on him. He’s a very good player, did a lot of really good things. Sometimes you’re looking at the situation for him and for our team and we felt like Minnesota was excited. He knows [Vikings coach] Kevin [O’Connell], he knows [Vikings offensive coordinator] Wes [Phillips], [Vikings quarterbacks coach] Chris O’Hara, [Vikings assistant inside linebackers coach] Thad Bogardus is there, [Vikings V.P. of player health and performance] Tyler Williams, so there’ll be some comfortability and some familiarity there and so feel good and I wish him nothing but the best.”
Nothing personal. Just business.
The Rams sent Akers and a conditional 2026 seventh-round pick to Minnesota in exchange for a conditional 2026 sixth-round pick.
Naturally, the press wanted to hear more from McVay. The coach was asked straight up if he feels any sense of failure as LA parts ways with Akers, particularly considering how McVay is seen as a “player’s coach.”
“No, I wouldn’t say that,” McVay said. “I think that’s kind of an easy narrative. Like I said, I think what we’re interested in is making decisions that we feel like are in the best interest of the team and there’s a lot of layers to it, but I am grateful for Cam and I wish him nothing but the best moving forward.”
Kyren Williams’ Impact on Cam Akers Decision
It has been almost a year since Akers initially demanded a trade away from LA. At that point, the former second-overall pick was benched in favor of Kyren Williams, who himself appeared to have locked up the starting RB job this season even before the Akers deal.
Coach McVay was asked to comment on this development and whether or not Williams’ move to that starting lineup had any impact on the decision to move on from Cam Akers. The Rams shot-caller deflected:
“I wish Cam nothing but the best,” McVay said. “We’re moving forward. We’re looking towards Cincinnati and I am very pleased with that running back room. I thought Kyren did a nice job. I think Ronnie Rivers is capable of being able to supplement him a little bit more. Whether it be Royce Freeman or Zach Evans, [I] feel good about that group and [running backs coach] Ron Gould’s leadership in that group.”
As he reiterated time and time again, Sean McVay just wishes nothing but the best for Akers now that he’s getting a clean slate in Minnesota. It sounds to me like the Rams are very much looking forward to putting this entire saga behind them.
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