Detroit Lions: Is Kenyan Drake a potential trade target?

The Detroit Lions could use some help at running back. With the NFL trade deadline approaching, could Miami’s Kenyan Drake be on the Pride’s radar?

The Detroit Lions entered 2019 wanting to run the football more effectively. The Lions believed they found their workhorse back in running back Kerryon Johnson last season as the rookie ran for 641 yards and posted four total touchdowns while averaging an impressive 5.4 yards per carry.

Detroit parted ways with longtime offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter this offseason and brought in the more grounded Darrell Bevell to take his place. Bevell was believed to bring a more run-centric offensive scheme to the Motor City, having helped running backs like Marshawn Lynch and Adrian Peterson forge Hall of Fame-worthy careers with the Seattle Seahawks and the Minnesota Vikings.

To aid in that effort, the Lions signed power back C.J. Anderson in free agency to presumably become the spiritual successor to LeGarrette Blount as a short-yardage specialist. Detroit also drafted Maryland running back Ty Johnson in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL Draft.

Prior to the start of the season, the Lions claimed running back J.D. McKissic from the Seahawks. And after their first two games of the season, Detroit released Anderson and claimed Paul Perkins from the New York Giants.

Note: Perkins was released on Thursday after the Lions claimed running back Tra Carson off waivers from the Green Bay Packers. In our opinion, the presence of Carson would not negate a possible trade for another running back.

The Lions currently rank 23rd in the NFL with 538 total rushing yards. (Take into account Detroit has had a bye week when many other teams have not). Kerryon Johnson leads the team in rushing with 285 yards and two scores. But his per carry average has dropped from 5.4 to 3.3 yards per game, which ranks 39th in the league according to ESPN.com. And Kerryon’s longest run to date has only been for 14 yards through five games.

If the Lions are hoping to boost their running back situation, they could possibly look to address the position via trade. The NFL trading deadline is Tuesday, October 29th at 4 p.m. ET. And there is a name rumored to be available that Detroit might be interested in.

That player is Miami Dolphins running back Kenyan Drake. The 0-5 Dolphins are believed to be in the midst of a tanking season and have traded away many of their star players. Drake was a third-round selection out of Alabama in 2016. He’s started in a total of 16 games during his four-year career.

The 25-year old’s best season came just last year when he rushed for 535 yards and four scores starting in a career-high seven of his 16 games for the Dolphins. Drake also posted 53 receptions for 477 yards and five touchdowns through the air.

According to the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson, Drake is now available for trade according to an unnamed source. The price? A draft pick. Possibly as low as a Day Three selection per Rotoworld.com.

If the Detroit Lions are looking to shore up their running back room with an experienced veteran to pair with Kerryon Johnson, they could do a lot worse than Kenyan Drake. And if they could obtain Drake for the right price, the Lions might be getting themselves a real steal.