Kenyan Drake, and his unfulfilled potential, off to Arizona

We knew this one was coming.

The last coaching staff couldn’t figure out how to use Kenyan Drake.

And this one never seemed especially interested in cracking that code either — in a contract season.

So Drake, who could rip off long runs but frustrated coaches in other areas, has been traded to the Arizona Cardinals as part of the Miami Dolphins’ historic purge. This came after Drake was kept home rather than making the trip to Pittsburgh for the Dolphins’ Monday Night Football clash (?) with the Steelers.

The #AZCardinals have traded for #Dolphins RB Kenyan Drake, handing Miami a conditional 6th round pick in 2020 that can become a 5th rounder, source said. Given injuries to David Johnson and Chase Edmonds, AZ jumped in this morning.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 28, 2019

So, you see, they didn’t get much. But this adds to their stash, and gives them even more ammunition to move up if they identify players higher in the draft that they want.

So what does this mean?

Well, first, Mark Walton (from the University of Miami) appears to be the starter for now. Kallen Ballage has not impressed this season, and it’s likely the Dolphins will address running back with a couple of their picks.

Also, it means we will likely see Drake thrive elsewhere, at least at first, like Jay Ajayi did briefly in Philadelphia.

Since 2016 – Forced missed tackles per carry among RBs (min. 300 carries)

1. Nick Chubb – 0.23
1. Kareem Hunt – 0.23
3. Kenyan Drake – 0.22 👀
4. Dalvin Cook – 0.21
4. Alvin Kamara – 0.21
4. Chris Carson – 0.21
4. Jay Ajayi – 0.21

— PFF (@PFF) October 28, 2019

He’s an explosive player but can be an exasperating one too.

The concern here is that the Dolphins have traded so much of their core — think Minkah Fitzpatrick, who faces them tonight — that it’s hard to know what they’ll do with the next batch of “promising players.”

Now we see what Arizona does with him.

The Arizona Cardinals are in last place, rebuilding and aren't going to the playoffs. Their top two RBs (who are good) are dealing with what appear to be short-term injuries. So they traded a draft pick for Kenyan Drake in the final year of his deal? I dunno, failing to see why.

— Frank Schwab (@YahooSchwab) October 28, 2019

Last man who was part of the Miami Miracle, turn off the lights.

Kenyan Drake did this in Miami.

Never forget. (Via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/02j5FBVGcY

— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) October 28, 2019