The Minnesota Vikings currently lead the NFC North at 5-0. However, their grip on that spot is tenuous, with the Detroit Lions being 4-1 and the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears each being 4-2. It is the most competitive division seen in the NFL since 2002, at least through the first six weeks. That means the Vikings must do everything in their power to maintain their advantage. Recent health setbacks at running back put them in a tough spot. So GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah went hunting for help on the trade market, including a phone call to Ryan Poles.
Eventually, the Vikings reunited with veteran Cam Akers, whom they acquired from the Houston Texans for a 6th round pick. However, it turns out he wasn’t their first choice. Darren Wolfson of SKOR North said on the Mackey & Judd podcast that Minnesota had another option in mind.
“Prior to the trade for Cam Akers, I’m led to believe the Vikings preferred Khalil Herbert of the Chicago Bears. (It’s) 100 percent confirmed, not reckless speculation: the Vikings had dialogue with Chicago. Absolutely had interest in Herbert. So it wasn’t Cam Akers or bust. Now clearly, the Bears wouldn’t do the parameters of the deal the Vikings worked out with Houston. My understanding is the Bears were looking for a little bit more, maybe like a fifth (round pick).”
The Bears’ former 6th round pick has been a rock solid player since being drafted in 2021. He’s a great fit for the outside-zone running system the Vikings deploy under head coach Kevin O’Connell. Herbert hasn’t done much of anything this season, losing snaps to the newly arrived D’Andre Swift and ascending youngster Roschon Johnson. One would think the Bears would jump at the chance to get a draft pick of any kind for Herbert, who is a free agent next March.
Demanding a 5th seems a little ignorant of the running back’s actual value. A likely explanation is Ryan Poles wasn’t wild about trading inside the division. So he raised the price to something where he felt the Vikings would say no but would be willing to do the deal if they somehow said yes. They opted for the former, shifting their focus to Akers.
