Kenyan Drake won't make any guarantees with revamped Cardinals, knows they will be 'nuisance in NFC West'

Drake likes the expectations for Arizona, but will let the play on the field speak for itself

The Arizona Cardinals are garnering plenty of hype this offseason, which is expected when the franchise trades for one of the game's best wideouts in DeAndre Hopkins and has the reigning rookie of the year in Kyler Murray at quarterback. Arizona has won just eight games over the past two seasons and hasn't sniffed the playoffs since 2015, but 2020 will be the Cardinals best shot at the postseason since Carson Palmer was the quarterback and Bruce Arians was roaming the sidelines as head coach.

The heightened expectations are welcome for Arizona, but the Cardinals have no interest in being this year's Cleveland Browns. Kenyan Drake played a huge role in Arizona's resurgence last season, expecting the Cardinals to give the NFC West fits in 2020. The Cardinals are no longer a pushover in the NFL's toughest division. 

"When you trade for one of the top receivers in the league, if not the top receiver in the league, it's going to bolster any offense," Drake said, via Bob McManaman of the Arizona Republic. "With the style of play we have, it's only going to help this team and be a nuisance for everybody in the NFC West for years to come. And it's not only because of his ability, but Kyler's ability to play the way he plays at quarterback and will continue to get better year in and year out, game in and game out."

The Cardinals are expected to have one of the top offenses in the NFL after adding Hopkins to a receiving unit that already included Larry Fitzgerald, Christian Kirk and Andy Isabella. Drake averaged 5.2 yards per carry and scored eight touchdowns in his eight games with the Cardinals last season, who are also getting Chase Edmonds back in their running back group. The Cardinals also re-signed left tackle D.J. Humphries and selected Josh Jones in the third round of the draft to help stabilize the offensive line. 

Then there's Murray, who should be even better heading into year two. 

The Cardinals didn't stop with the addition of Hopkins. The front office made major strides to improve a defense that ranked 28th in points allowed and dead last in yards allowed in 2019. Arizona stabilized the linebacker group with the additions of Devon Kennard and De'Vondre Campbell in free agency and selecting Isaiah Simmons No. 8 overall in the draft, pairing them with Jordan Hicks in the middle. Chandler Jones is arguably the best pass rusher in the NFL and the Cardinals gave him some interior pass rush help with the signing of Jordan Phillips and Trevon Coley -- so the Cardinals defense should be much improved. 

Drake is the wild card in the equation, as he is playing on the transition tag at $8.4 million. If Drake can replicate his small sample size with Arizona into a full season, the Cardinals are likely looking at a winning season -- and a big payday would be coming for Drake. 

"I'm really excited just from the fact it's another year to strap it up and go out and prove your worth and really just play the game that I've loved since I was 6 years old," Drake said. "I tell people all the time, 'I'd play this game for free if the NFL didn't pay me so handsomely.' So, I appreciate the opportunity to play the game I love and play this game with high-caliber athletes all around me to go out there and make this game even more fun, so I'm looking forward to it."