The Facts: The Cardinals want to keep Drake -- and they took a step Monday morning to help make that happen. The team applied the transition tag to Drake, who is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent on Wednesday.
Diehards Line:Drake is still able to negotiate a contract with another team, but the tag allows the Cardinals the right of first refusal on any offer. If the Cardinals were to decline to match an offer, they would not receive any compensation. The one-year transition tag salary is determined by averaging the top 10 players at the position over the past five years. Spotrac.com estimates the tag at $8.4 million for 2020. Drake could also still negotiate a long-term contract with the Cardinals. In only eight games with the Cardinals, Drake rushed for 643 yards (5.2 yards a carry) and eight touchdowns. He added another 171 yards on 28 receptions. Drake was acquired midseason in a trade with the Dolphins for what turned out to be a fifth-round pick. The Cardinals still have David Johnson – who is owed $10.2 million in salary this season himself – on the roster at running back, as well as Chase Edmonds. D.J. Foster is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent.