Arizona acquired Kenyan Drake for a conditional 2020 pick…
Arizona acquired Kenyan Drake for a conditional 2020 pick that became a fifth-rounder. Drake immediately erupted for 643 rushing yards and eight touchdowns in eight games, then added 955 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns in 2020. Miami later used the acquired pick in the Matt Breida trade, but Drake's two-season production gave Arizona the stronger direct football payoff.
Arizona Cardinals Received
- player Kenyan Drake
Miami Dolphins Received
- pick 2020 5th round pick (153rd overall subsequently traded, Colton McKivitz )
Trade Analysis
What Changed Hands
Arizona acquired Kenyan Drake from Miami on October 28, 2019 for a conditional 2020 draft pick that ultimately became a fifth-round selection, No. 153. The Dolphins later moved that pick to San Francisco in exchange for running back Matt Breida, and the 49ers used No. 153 on offensive lineman Colton McKivitz. Arizona made the deal because injuries had depleted its backfield and Drake was available before the deadline.
Why Arizona Pulled Ahead
Drake's impact was immediate. In eight games for the Cardinals in 2019, he rushed for 643 yards at 5.2 yards per carry and scored eight rushing touchdowns. He returned in 2020 and posted 955 rushing yards with 10 more rushing touchdowns while starting 13 games. That gave Arizona nearly a season and a half of lead-back production for a mid-round pick. Miami did recover useful value by turning the selection into Breida, but his Dolphins tenure lasted only one season and produced a much smaller role.
How the Deal Aged
The exchange is a reminder that rebuilding teams can make a logical sale without necessarily winning the trade. Miami was reshaping its roster and had reason to collect draft capital for a player nearing free agency. Arizona, however, paid a modest price and received immediate high-end production during Kyler Murray's early development. The conditional pick escalating to the fifth round did not change the value equation because Drake's on-field return comfortably exceeded the typical expectation for that draft slot.
Final Verdict
Arizona wins with an A-, while Miami earns a B-. The Dolphins responsibly converted an expiring asset into a pick and later into another veteran back, but the Cardinals got the best football from the transaction. Drake's 18 rushing touchdowns across his first 23 Arizona games created clear separation.