According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Arizona Cardinals will be using their transition tag on former Alabama running back Kenyan Drake. This means that Arizona will be able to match any offer Drake receives in free agency if they believe that the deal is fair.
Wow. The #AZCardinals have given RB Kenyan Drake the transition tag, source said.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 16, 2020
If no one is to make an offer to Drake then he would remain in Arizona for one year earning a salary of roughly $8 million. It is about $4 million less than the salary of a franchise tagged running back.
Last season was a bit of a whirl wind for Drake. He began the season with the Miami Dolphins whose franchise was heading in a much different direction. It was obvious they were looking to tank and the Drake was not apart of their future plans.
This resulted in a mid-season trade to the Cardinals where Drake had an immediate impact. In eight games with his new team Drake rushed for 643 yards and eight touchdowns.
Head coach Kliff Kingsbury will surely be pleased to have his versatile back returning next season and will likely give him an even bigger role upon his return.
Moments after placing the tag on Drake the Cardinals decided to trade running back David Johnson who was the team’s starter for the past five seasons, to the Houston Texans in exchange for wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins.
Texans are trading DeAndre Hopkins to Arizona, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 16, 2020
With Johnson now gone, Arizona will likely not have an issue matching any offer Drake receives in free agency as they cleared $14 million off of its cap.
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Patrick Dowd is a Reporter for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can follow him on Twitter, via Pat_Dowd77
