AUGUST 23: As Drake expected, no trade materialized. The Raiders have followed through on their pledge to release the six-year veteran running back, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
AUGUST 22: Given a two-year deal in 2021, Kenyan Drake is not expected to be part of the 2022 Raiders. Las Vegas plans to release the veteran running back, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. The team is still holding out hope for a trade and will hold off on an official release for a bit, per Josina Anderson of CBS Sports (on Twitter). But Drake’s contract makes a deal difficult.
The former Dolphins and Cardinals back signed an $11MM deal during Jon Gruden‘s final offseason in charge. Teams must cut their rosters from 85 to 80 players by Tuesday afternoon. Drake does not expect a trade to happen.
“I’m just waiting on the next 24 hours,” Drake said, via Anderson (all Twitter links). “I don’t think anyone would trade for me just because of the contract situation, either way Raiders have to pay me.
“Honestly, I felt like the writing has been on the wall recently — like within the last two to three weeks. I never felt like I had a fair shot to really compete for the job coming off the injury. I feel like, as time progressed through camp, there really wasn’t a role for me to have anymore because they had guys that they brought in, they traded for and I was kind of odd man out, especially coming off my injury.”
Because the Raiders fully guaranteed Drake $8.5MM, a release will come with some dead money. The Raiders also restructured Drake’s deal in March, creating some cap space but pushing more money into the future. The Raiders will eat $8MM in dead money from this cut, though only $3.6MM of it will go on this year’s cap. The move will provide less than $500K in cap savings. A trade would lessen the blow, moving Drake’s $2.5MM base salary off the books.
Drake, 28, did not finish out his first season as a Raider; a broken leg sidelined him in December. Drake had recovered, however, and suited up for Las Vegas’ preseason games thus far. The Raiders’ new Josh McDaniels–Dave Ziegler regime added Brandon Bolden and Ameer Abdullah and drafted two backs — fourth-rounder Zamir White and seventh-rounder Brittain Brown — this offseason. The roster crunch behind Josh Jacobs left Drake without a place, with Vic Tafur of The Athletic noting (via Twitter) Abdullah — a former second-round pick but a player whose primary role in recent years has been as a kick returner — had beaten him out.
The Cardinals transition-tagged Drake in 2020, giving the former Dolphins third-rounder a nice payday to stick around following an in-season 2019 trade. Drake worked as Arizona’s primary back in 2020, and Gruden — who was interested in the Alabama product in 2020 as well, prior to the Cards tagging him — viewed him as a player who would help on passing downs. After totaling 1,092 scrimmage yards in 2020, Drake amassed just 545 (with three touchdowns) last season.
We signed him and passed on TB12 and Gronk lmao. We all knew Gruden was a disaster but it keeps getting worse and worse. Thank God he’s gone
To be honest a lot of people thought Tom Brady was at the end of his rope when he hit free agency, so from Gruden’s perspective you had a proven QB so why would you trade that for an over the hill QB for one or two seasons. Hindsight being 20/20 it was obviously the wrong decision but not an unforgivable one. The 49ers stuck with Garappalo when Brady openly made it know he was interested so Gruden wasn’t alone.
Right now the Raiders are better off without executing the Brady/Gronk deal. There will never be a way to end this argument and I feel bad for Carr to once again have to deal with outside B.S.
Kenyan Drake was brought in to be the new Charlie “Instant Offense” Garner for Jon’s second stint. With the O-Line having issues and Darren Waller turning into an absolute stud, the outlet pass and putting players in motion never really developed and was a foreign concept to Rich Bisaccia.
Jon Gruden is the Antichrist
As shiny as the Brady/Gronk toy would’ve been, Derek Carr is the right quarterback for this franchise and anyone who pretends like he isn’t is not looking at things through the right lens. Hopefully this will be the season he shuts down all the haters and doubters. If our defense plays well enough, the o-line steps up and we stay healthy this will be a successful season for the Nation.
On the positive side we now know that Brady was talking about Carr during his 2020 free agency when he derisively said ‘they are sticking with that f-cker?’
Drake went to Alabama….
Another “solid” Raiders free agent decision. Except in this case, Drake can actually play a little, it’s just that they apparently no longer want him to.
At this point, the Raiders are stuck paying Drake. He can play and be better than almost any of the UDFA/second tier journeymen backs. Cutting him seems self-defeating, unless Drake is literally hobbled post-injury.
McDaniels has a history, even moreso than Gruden, of signing guys that he personally likes or wants for his particular system over adapting his philosophy to individual players. Jacobs is good enough to sort of force his way onto the roster, but I would bet that unless he adapts to McDaniels’ idea of what he should be, Jacobs will likely be replaced in the next offseason. A backup or secondary ball handler like Drake has much less leeway.
They already turned down his 5th year option so you’re probably not far off
Welcone to Philly
Does seem like a Philly signing
I didn’t think he was a bad signing, this is the type
of move you’ll see when there is a regime change. McDaniels/Ziegler have a different approach in the RB room and that is the end of the story. Hopefully he catches on somewhere and enjoys some more productive seasons in the league. Thank you for your service Kenyan.
Steelers — please be all over this
I agree. He’d do well in Pitt. With check down Trubisky or the rookie he would be a nice safe pass catcher whose reliable when healthy. Harris is great but a good back behind him gives him a blow when he needs one.
I like Drake, but yes it’s more the complete lack of a #2. Drake would seem to compliment Harris nicely and could play lead back if he gets injured for a few games.
Agree 1000%. Almost makes too much sense.
no way.. this dudes washed
McFarland looks good
Need to see more to trust that. We’ll see what he shows Sunday
why would you want Kenyan Drake?
surely younger RBs will become available like Myles Gaskin etc.
Drakes next stop is the XFL
I’d rather have whoever the ‘Phins cut, but there will be high interest from a dozen other teams, some with more money, some without a Najee-like workhorse in front of him.
Drake should be cheap and a good fit role-wise. Cut Snell. Keep Najee, Drake, Warren.
still leaving MacFarland off the team?
that’s crazy.. he’s the current #2 by a mile
Warren has seemingly passed him over the last week or two. He’s gotten almost no touches the last week
I like Warren too
Agreed. Whether they keep Warren and MacFarland or Warren plus a FA I’m just hoping they go for someone with more upside than Snell. Obviously a better line would suit his running style better, but his ceiling is just so low. And I honestly think he could clear waivers to the PS.
“Drake, 28, did not finish out his first season as a Raider”
This makes it sound like he got trade away or cut, rather than injured.
The trifecta of Penny’s injury history, Walker’s hernia dark cloud, and QBs who will need the check down RB … Seahawks
With the Alabama connection, would not be a surprise to see him in Baltimore.
Feels like a good pickup for the Ravens who’s top 2 RBs are still recovering from ACL tears last year. He can’t really work out any less than the likes of Devonta Freeman or Le’veon Bell.