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Cardinals add another three-down playmaker in Kenyan Drake

By Kevin Parvizi

ORCHARD PARK, NY - OCTOBER 20: Kenyan Drake #32 of the Miami Dolphins runs the ball against the Buffalo Bills at New Era Field on October 20, 2019 in Orchard Park, New York. Buffalo beats Miami 31 to 21. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)
ORCHARD PARK, NY - OCTOBER 20: Kenyan Drake #32 of the Miami Dolphins runs the ball against the Buffalo Bills at New Era Field on October 20, 2019 in Orchard Park, New York. Buffalo beats Miami 31 to 21. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images) /
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The Miami Dolphins firesale continues, and the Arizona Cardinals are the latest team to pick up a potential difference-maker from the latest NFL team to embrace the tank.

Although the Arizona Cardinals have a 3-4-1 record in a difficult NFC West and are coming off a blowout loss to the New Orleans Saints, this has been an incredibly encouraging first season for Kliff Kingsbury.

With No. 1 overall pick Kyler Murray playing exactly like a hyped-up No. 1 overall pick should, Arizona feels like it has a chance to win on any given Sunday.

And they just added another quality piece to an offense starved of difference-makers. Per, ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Cardinals have sent a conditional draft pick in 2020 to the Miami Dolphins for running back Kenyan Drake, who was always expected to be moved away from a team that is tanking for Tua Tagovailoa.

Drake joins the Cardinals after they struggled mightily on the ground against New Orleans. David Johnson’s injury has robbed Arizona of their only real playmaker on offense, and while Chase Edmonds has been a standout this season on the ground, he could only muster eight yards on seven carries.

Adding Drake makes Arizona three-deep at running back and gives them a second three-down playmaker who carries a home-run threat with the ball in his hands. Drake was never used properly by the Dolphins, so there’s a good chance he breaks out in Arizona’s multi-faceted offense with more touches.

Now, touches may not be easy to come by when Johnson is healthy, but Drake will have a chance to impress whenever “DJ” is injured. Furthermore, the Cardinals run such a high volume of plays that Drake will “get his”, especially since he adds so much value in the passing game. Last season, Drake had 53 receptions and five touchdowns.

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Above all else, Drake is a playmaker who had nine touchdowns from scrimmage in 2018 before being used even less by the 0-16-minded Dolphins in 2019. The Cardinals need as much talent as possible around Murray, and Kingsbury should be able to find a way to maximize the former Alabama star’s talents.

Consider this a potential bargain-bin acquisition for Arizona, whose rebuild is already off to an excellent start.

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