5. Kenyan Drake

After Drake was selected in the third round of the 2016 draft, he was thrust into a depth chart that had Jay Ajayi, the league’s fourth-leading rusher. In 2017, when Ajayi was traded to the Eagles, Drake stepped in, but he never got the full workload, carrying the ball only 133 times in his second season. The coaching staff and front office continued to bring in other backs (Frank Gore, Kalen Ballage, etc.) instead of just letting Drake be the guy.

Last season, Drake was traded to Arizona after eight games. He saw his numbers skyrocket from a 3.7 yards per attempt to 5.2. With the Cardinals, he scored eight rushing touchdowns compared to the zero with Miami. To many, this proved that Drake has the ability to be an above-average running back in this league, he just needs the opportunity.

He can run for 1,000 yards and bring in over 50 receptions. That alone should be reason enough for a team to be in on Drake. The lone issue will be the price tag. Teams noticed what he did last year when given a shot, and they’ll be looking to bring him in, including the Cardinals who were the first team to believe in him. If the Patriots were to bring Drake in, the move would indicate a shifting in New England’s faith in Michel, which is not completely out of the question, as Drake would likely be the first back on a depth chart.

It’s unlikely that the Patriots make a big splash in the free agent running back pool, but there are quite a few options that could improve the team. Look for them to potentially add some inexpensive pieces to really bolster the depth at the position.

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