One more player on the Las Vegas Raiders 2021 playoff roster has made the decision to leave the NFL. Kenyan Drake, a former running back, declared his retirement via Instagram.
Drake commented on July 19 in the post, saying, “Hard to believe 8 seasons have come and gone.” All of it—the victories, the tiny and large moments, the camaraderie, the energy—has made the road enjoyable for me. I can’t say I enjoyed every moment (if you’ve ever attended a training camp in Miami, you can understand), but I can appreciate the highs and lows because I know they helped me grow both as a person and as a football player. I’m eager to see where the next chapter leads me and enjoy a little retirement. I’d like to thank everyone who traveled with me; nothing would have changed.
Drake has been in and out of the NFL since signing a two-year, $11 million contract with the Raiders in 2021. He was a member of four teams in the previous season: the Indianapolis Colts, Green Bay Packers, Cleveland Browns, and Baltimore Ravens.
After fracturing his ankle while playing for the Raiders in 2021, he has struggled to establish himself in a regular position. He served more than three seasons with the Miami Dolphins after being selected in the third round of the NFL by the Alabama Crimson Tide. Drake had his greatest year, rushing for 955 yards, in 2020 while playing for the Arizona Cardinals.
Drake from Kenya Joins Jalen Richard & Darren Waller
Interestingly, Drake is not the first member of the Raiders’ playoff squad from 2021 to declare his retirement. While tight end Darren Waller made the announcement weeks ago, fellow running back Jalen Richard only made it known a few days ago.
Waller is just 31 years old, but Richard and Drake are only 30. Since Richard had previously spent two seasons outside of the NFL, his retirement was not shocking. Running backs rarely play into their 30s, so Drake’s decision to retire should also come as no surprise.
Waller’s choice to retire was a little more nuanced because he still had a large deal with the New York Giants after toying with the idea for a long.
For the Raiders’ running backs, a new era
The Raiders running back room of 2021 is not the same as it was at all. Josh Jacobs joined the Packers this summer, thus none of those running backs are left on the roster.
Zamir White is expected to start at the front, followed by Ameer Abdullah and Alexander Mattison. Dylan Laube, a rookie selected in the seventh round, is also intriguing. Although this generation has some potential, they lack the 2021 group’s experience. Being a Pro Bowl player, Jacobs will be difficult to replace.
The Raiders cannot count on White to provide the same level of output as Jacobs did. He won’t probably get as many carries because he wasn’t as highly-touted out of college. White, though, has been putting in a lot of effort during the offseason and is prepared to assume the primary role. If White struggles, he might not have much of a leash. Mattison has started games and is an accomplished backup. If White has trouble, the club won’t be afraid to give him more carries. Given Mattison’s ceiling restrictions, Las Vegas would be ecstatic if White could break through this year.
