Kenyan Drake found a new home in Las Vegas during free agency this season and will form one of the deadliest running back duos along with Josh Jacobs. And even before his first official training camp, Drake has high expectations for next season.
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The Raiders had yet another disappointing season in 2020, getting off to a hot 6-3 start but ending up with just another 8-8 season. But Drake’s expectations do have some promise heading into training camp.
Raiders, RB Kenyan Drake agree to two-year, $11 million deal. (via @TomPelissero) pic.twitter.com/bTBEbFPbbq
— NFL (@NFL) March 18, 2021
Kenyan Drake had a solid 2020 season where he totaled over 1,000 yards from scrimmage. And will now join Josh Jacobs in Las Vegas, who himself had a Pro Bowl season with over 1,300 yards. The back-pair will be joined by a solid receiving core in John Brown and Willie Snead along with Pro Bowl TE Darren Waller. So with Derek Carr at centre, the Raiders look solid on offence.
Kenyan Drake details his expectations for 2021
During an interview on NFL Network’s Good Morning Football, Drake quipped that he’s already headed to space in one alternate fashion.
“I know who for sure is going to space, and that’s this offense this year, this team,” the RB cracked. “I feel like we’re definitely taking off to another trajectory, you know what I mean? You like how I kind of threw that in there?”
“I feel like with his skill set and my skill set, they complement each other pretty well,” Drake said. “He just has a knack for making plays in space or just being a hammer and not the nail, like our running back coach in Alabama used to say. … Just excited about what Gruden has planned for us and this offense in general.”
“Up to this point in my career from Alabama, really started from high school because I played a little receiver, I kind of came out as an athlete, then going to Alabama, obviously with being there, I was able to play a little receiver as well,” he said. “But then playing in Miami, I came in as a third-down back. Going to Arizona, I was mostly used as a first- or second-down back.”
“Now I just feel like it’s a full-circle situation where I can kind of come in, obviously spell Josh in that situation, be a first- or second-down back, prove I can do that, come in and be a third-down back in certain situations and also play a little receiver. So like I said, I just feel like it’s come real full-circle for me in my career and I just kind of look forward to putting it all together.”
The Raiders haven’t made the playoffs since 2016 but will hope that changes in 2021.