Kenyan Drake

2018

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2017

A third-round pick out of Alabama last season, Drake didn't get much of a chance to contribute on offense after Jay Ajayi established a lock on the starting job. Drake has the physical attributes to be a threat, however, and his premium speed and explosiveness were on full display in 2016 as a kick returner, where Drake averaged over 30 yards per return with one touchdown. The Dolphins didn't make any significant additions to their RB depth chart in the offseason, so he should head into this season as Ajayi's top backup, but that assignment may not provide Drake with many more snaps than he got as a rookie. Ajayi is also a capable receiver, so despite his ability to turn any touch into a touchdown, Drake may have to settle for being a mere change-of-pace option for now.

2016

Drake was a big play waiting to happen at Alabama, be it as a change-of-pace runner, a pass catcher or a return man. We love The Drake. His 95-yard kick return touch-down against Clemson was a big part of the Tide securing another championship. But how much of a workload can Drake realistically handle? He's just 210 pounds despite having a 6-foot-1 frame, and he battled major injuries (broken leg, broken arm) the last two seasons. The Dolphins would like Drake to get up to speed as quickly as possible, though the team's addition of Arian Foster could suppress Drake's short-term upside. Meanwhile, Jay Ajayi is unproven as a feature back, and after that it's just Damien Williams, Daniel Thomas, Isaiah Pead and Drake. A role awaits Drake, in any case, but he must re-prove his health after being slowed by hamstring issues this summer. How large said role might be hinges on how well the Foster experiment goes. Look for Drake to be a staple on kick returns (and perhaps punt returns) when the season begins, along with some spot work on offense. He was the third overall back taken in the draft (albeit in the third round), which tells you how Miami feels about him.