Minnesota Vikings make a trade ahead of the deadline and it's a repeat of one they made last season

The Minnesota Vikings have made the same trade for the second consecutive season as they have acquired running back Cam Akers and a conditional 2026 seventh-round pick from the Houston Texans in exchange for a conditional 2026 sixth-round pick.

The Vikings needed to add some depth at the running back position for the rest of the season. Aaron Jones is currently week-to-week with a hip injury and Ty Chandler hasn't quite shown the ability to be trusted in a full-time basis as the starting running back.

The benefit of bringing in a player like Akers over someone with more upside is the continuity. Akers was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams when Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell was the offensive coordinator. Wes Phillips , who is currently the offensive coordinator for the Vikings, was also on staff at the time. Akers also played with the Vikings in 2023 and will be able to come in right away and contribute without having to learn a new playbook.

Last season, the conditions were not met so the Vikings got Akers for free. He needed to gain over 400 yards with the Vikings for the compensation to become official. That would likely be the case here as well.

Will Akers make a difference? That remains to be seen, but he will provide some sort of depth for Minnesota.

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