Cardinals Trade for Dolphins' Kenyan Drake with David Johnson Injured

Timothy Rapp @@TRappaRTFeatured ColumnistOctober 28, 2019

MIAMI, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 08: Kenyan Drake #32 of the Miami Dolphins looks on against the Baltimore Ravens at Hard Rock Stadium on September 08, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Michael Reaves/Getty Images

The fire sale continues.

The Miami Dolphins dealt yet another starter Monday, trading running back Kenyan Drake to the Arizona Cardinals for a conditional 2020 draft selection.

ESPN's Adam Schefter first reported the trade, while NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported the Dolphins received a conditional 2020 sixth-round pick that could become a fifth-round pick.

The move gives the Cardinals much-needed depth in the backfield as David Johnson (ankle) and Chase Edmonds (hamstring) each deal with injuries.

Adam Schefter @AdamSchefter
Arizona lost RB Chase Edmonds to a hamstring injury Sunday, already had RB David Johnson dealing with an ankle injury that is expected to sideline him this week and now will add RB Kenyan Drake, who could be in line for significant work Thursday night vs. San Francisco.

Josh Weinfuss @joshweinfuss
The Cardinals get more help at running back. This is also a sign that Chase Edmond’s and/or David Johnson’s injuries could potentially be somewhat longterm. https://t.co/7uQKpXDc2u

The Dolphins aren't being subtle about tanking this year. The team traded offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil and wideout Kenny Stills to the Houston Texans in August and allowed second-year safety Minkah Fitzpatrick to seek a trade before dealing him to the Pittsburgh Steelers in September.

With plenty of turnover on the roster and key players being shopped, the Dolphins are clearly in a full-scale rebuild.

That made players like Drake valuable trade chips as the Dolphins go into asset-collection mode before Tuesday's trade deadline. When he didn't travel with the team to Pittsburgh for the team's Week 8 matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday night, it became pretty clear he was going to be dealt.

Cameron Wolfe @CameronWolfe
Dolphins RB Kenyan Drake did not travel with the team for Monday night’s game vs. Steelers. He’s not injured. It’s a clear sign that he’s likely to be traded before Tuesday’s deadline. Dolphins have been hoping for a midround pick in return.

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Armando Salguero @ArmandoSalguero
The Dolphins announce RB Kenyan Drake is also not traveling with team. Drake is healthy and practiced all week. He has been the focus of trade talks and deadline is Tuesday. This suggests he’ll be moved.

The 25-year-old has been solid if unspectacular for the Dolphins in his four-year career, generally in a backfield platoon. Last season he rushed for 535 yards and four touchdowns in 16 games, though he was outplayed by veteran Frank Gore.

The 2016 third-round pick out of Alabama came into the 2019 season as the presumed starter, though he once again found himself in a timeshare on Miami's impotent offense, this time alongside Kalen Ballage and Mark Walton.

For the Cardinals, Drake is a solid option at running back and will improve the team's depth, though he's unlikely to seriously bolster the run game. He's yet to prove he can lead a backfield, though leaving Miami should give him a better chance to showcase his ability, especially if Johnson or Edmonds misses more time.