Miami Dolphins Kenyan Drake out of walking boot but future still uncertain

The Miami Dolphins got some good news on Sunday when Kenyan Drake was no longer wearing his walking boot but will his future be with the Dolphins?

Over the last several days the Miami Dolphins have been at the forefront of NFL trade rumors and now that Kenyan Drake is out of his walking boot, he may be the next to start hearing his name mentioned.

Drake has been out of practice for almost two weeks with an unspecified lower leg injury. Since his injury he has been in a walking boot but with that off now, he should be ready to resume practice and be ready for the start of the season.

When Drake is on his game he is hard to stop. An explosive runner with good vision, the hangup has always been his issues with decisiveness at the line of scrimmage. He doesn’t attack the holes the way Dolphins coaches have liked but his value to break a run long has been able to cover for his line decisions.

Drake has been in a camp competition with Kalen Ballage who has looked good as the starter but that doesn’t mean he will start the season. It is a tossup right now as to who will be the Dolphins lead back come opening day.

Of course there is the trade talk. Drake is not going to break any compensation banks in a trade and the best Miami would be able to get would be a mid-round draft pick. The issue with Drake isn’t his ability to run the football. His contract is not likely to get extended and the Dolphins like the youth they have at the position. In addition to Ballage, the Dolphins like what they have seen from Myles Gaskin, Mark Walton, and especially Patrick Laird.

It is the depth at the position that may make Drake expendable. The Dolphins covet 2020 draft picks and if they can get anything for Drake it would be a surprise if they didn’t take it considering the uncertainty of his future in Miami beyond this season. Over the last two days, the Houston Texans has been the hot landing spot for Drake after former Miami Dolphins runner Lamar Miller tore his ACL.

Nothing is certain at this point but the Dolphins have tough decisions to make at running back and the numbers may not add up to keep Drake around.