The Las Vegas Raiders general manager Dave Ziegler is reported on Monday to release veteran running back Kenyan Drake from the team.
On Monday, Drake said in an interview with The Associated Press that Ziegler has called him and the team will be moving on without him. Drake is said to cost $3.6 million in salary cap this year and $4.4 million in 2023.
“He let me know how they were planning on moving forward, how really uncustomary it was for him to tell me himself, and that was just a testament to the respect he has for me as a player, and as a man,” Drake said.
“If not within the next 24 hours, then for them to kind of just really move on from there, because I was gonna be released regardless.”
The #Raiders plan to release veteran RB Kenyan Drake, per source. pic.twitter.com/4qFTc9ogbX
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) August 22, 2022
According to ESPN’s Paul Gutierrez, if Drake is released instead of being traded, the Raiders would lose a total of $8 million in the salary cap. Drake said that Ziegler himself told him to look for trade immediately.
“I just know that regardless, somebody has to pay that contract, whether it is the Raiders or whether it’s the team that eventually picks me up. So pretty much I’ll be getting paid,” he said.
Drake, 28, has also said that he wasn’t really interested in playing specifically for money. He considered the running backs were the “heartbeat” and “engine” of the team, so he still has a lot to offer.
“I’m not really looking for any specific type of money, or opportunity specifically. I just want to be able to go out there and compete and help a team win games,” he said.
“I’m a simple man. I’m not necessarily in the latter part of my career, but I’m not a second, or third-year player anymore.”
Drake’s career
Drake signed up with the Raiders in 2021 for a two-year $11 million contract. Unfortunately, he was reported to not live up to expectations. When he first joined, Mike Mayock was the team’s general manager and Jon Gruden was the coach.
Before joining the Raiders, he was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft. He has spent the first four years in Miami and two more years with the Arizona Cardinals.
Drake has rushed 63 times for 254 yards and two touchdowns in 12 games, with him starting two of them. He has played in three preseason games with the Raiders after returning from a broken ankle last season. He has rushed 30 yards on 12 carries and has caught five passes for 27 yards.
As a result of Drake has somewhat underperformed, Josh Jacobs kept his position as the Raiders’ lead back and has received more carries than Drake. However, in April, rookie Zamir White was selected as the team’s running back.
Possible teams for Drake
CBS Sports contributor Bryan DeArdo reported that there were at least five possible teams that would be suitable for Drake. He listed the Baltimore Ravens, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Rams, Atlanta Falcons, and Houston Texans.
DeArdo said Drake could be an added insurance for the Ravens in the backfield should there be any setbacks to the team’s top backs. With the Chiefs, DeArdo wrote that Drake could be a substitute if Edwards Helaire missed more games due to injuries, considering Helaire was absent in seven games last season.
With the Falcons, DeArdo said that Drake would likely have a heavier workload but also cited that the team is currently lacking depth at running back, which Drake could fill in. Meanwhile, with the Texans, Drake has the potential to play a similar role to one that he had in Miami and Arizona early in his career.