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Running Back Kenyan Drake Says Las Vegas Raiders Plan to Release Him

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Las Vegas Raiders running back Kenyon Drake (23) during pregame warmups before a Thanksgiving day NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Thursday, Nov. 25, 2021, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Matt Patterson)

Kenyan Drake is breaking his own news.

The Las Vegas Raiders plan to release the veteran running back and absorb a $3.6 million salary-cap hit this year and $4.4 million in 2023 as a result. Drake said in a phone interview with The Associated Press on Monday that Raiders general manager Dave Ziegler called him personally to let him know the team was moving on.

“He let me know how they were planning on moving forward, how really uncustomary it was for him to tell me himself, and that was just a testament to the respect he has for me as a player, and as a man,” Drake said.

“They had their guys. I mean, they drafted two running backs, they brought in two other running backs, all who I have admiration for. I have respect for their game. So I have nothing bad to say about the organization with how they decided to move,” Drake told the AP. “I’ve been around this game for a while now, and I could just see myself being the odd man out. I feel like it just presents an opportunity for me to go to another team and continue to be the playmaker that I’ve always been.”

Drake said Ziegler told him he would seek an immediate trade.

“If not within the next 24 hours, then for them to kind of just really move on from there, because I was gonna be released regardless,” Drake said. “I just know that regardless, somebody has to pay that contract, whether it is the Raiders or whether it’s the team that eventually picks me up. So pretty much I’ll be getting paid.”

Drake said he could be an asset to another team as a dual-threat back.

“I’m not really looking for any specific type of money, or opportunity specifically. I just want to be able to go out there and compete and help a team win games,” he said. “I’m a simple man. I’m not necessarily in the latter part of my career, but I’m not a second, or third-year player anymore.”

Drake also spoke with Josina Anderson about the Raiders roster move:

Kenyan also took to social media to send out some meaningful messages:

This is what can happen when a new regime takes over, it’s all just part of the business of football.

NFL teams must trim their rosters to 80 players by Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET.

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