Ravens an ‘ideal destination’ for free agent RB Kenyan Drake
By Kristen Wong
The Baltimore Ravens have one of the best running back rooms in the league — when all their backs are healthy. There’s always reason to add insurance, so why not Kenyan Drake?
The Las Vegas Raiders are reportedly preparing to release Drake before the start of the 2022 regular season, and a ball-carrier of Drake’s caliber will be a hot commodity even in a competitive market.
Drake has six years of experience under his belt and is coming off a middling campaign with the raiders. With Josh Jacobs as Las Vegas’ primary running back, Drake didn’t see too much of the field in 2021 yet he filled in admirably when Jacobs sat out for stretches of the season.
CBS Sports’ Bryan DeArdo recently listed Baltimore as an ideal destination for the free agent back:
"Baltimore already boasts a crowded backfield that includes J.K. Dobbins, Gus Edwards, Mike Davis and Justice Hill. But with Dobbins, Edwards and Hill all coming back from season-ending injuries, the addition of adding Drake to the roster certainly makes sense."
Ravens could add yet another talented running back in Kenyan Drake
In 12 games, Drake recorded 254 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns along with 291 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown. He showed promise as both a gritty third-down back and a surprisingly reliable pass-catcher out of the backfield and could make an immediate impact in Baltimore.
J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards are primed to take the top two running back spots on the roster, yet both are recovering from season-ending injuries. Drake arguably possesses more value than veteran Mike Davis or rookie Tyler Badie and would thrive in a run-heavy offensive scheme like the Ravens.
This is not to say Drake should be the RB1 — that role belongs to Dobbins or Edwards. Instead, he offers the most as a backup piece who can share the workload with other Ravens backs and take starting snaps when necessary.
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The Ravens’ running back unit is already crowded enough as it is, but Drake has the versatility and talent to force Baltimore to at least consider bringing him on in 2022.