The Arizona Cardinals pulled off a trade to acquire running back Kenyan Drake from the Miami Dolphins. In four seasons with the Dolphins, Drake ran for 1,532 yards and nine touchdowns.
Does this trade make sense for the Cardinals?
Arizona is currently dealing with a flurry of injuries in the backfield, with star running back David Johnson missing time with an ankle injury and Chase Edmonds out for the foreseeable future with a hamstring injury. With a depleted backfield, the trade certainly makes sense from that standpoint.
Many believed Drake would be traded would be traded to a contender in the NFL, but it was the 3-4-1 Cardinals who were willing to give up a 2020 sixth-round pick — with the possibility it turns into a 5th round pick.
While the Cardinals now have a starting running back as Johnson and Edmonds recover from their injuries, Drake might not be in the long-term plans for the team. Drake's contract expires after this season, so would the Cardinals be willing to offer Drake a contract with Johnson and Edmonds already in the backfield?
Or was the trade for Drake purely so the team could have him for the latter half of the season? If that's the case, why would the team even trade for Drake at all, especially giving up a sixth-round pick for him?
The trade makes more sense for the Dolphins, who continue to add assets for their upcoming rebuild.
At 3-4-1, the chances are slim for the Cardinals to make the playoffs, especially with games against the San Francisco 49ers (twice), Los Angeles Rams (twice) and Seattle Seahawks on the docket.
Despite this, Cardinals running backs have found success in head coach Kliff Kingsbury's offense, as Johnson is stuffing the stat lines with 300 rushing yards, 315 receiving yards and five total touchdowns.
Even Edmonds broke out when pushed into the starting lineup against the New York Giants, going for 126 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
Drake hasn't put it together since being drafted by the Dolphins in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft, with his highest rushing total coming in 2017 with only 644 yards.
Arizona could be the place where Drake turns his career around, but it could also be a short stop before looking to the free-agent market to find a new home.
Kenyan Drake is expected to have a major workload in his first game with the Cardinals as they take on the 49ers on Thursday Night Football.
Trade grade: C
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