If you followed the Patriots through the slog of their 2023 NFL season and the 4-13 record it produced, you’ll surely look back with regret over the handling of rookie Malik Cunningham, who was electric during a brief showing in the preseason then was relegated to, essentially, no role at all once games got underway. For an offense that was so often limp and lifeless, it seemed that incorporating Cunningham was a low-risk move for a team with little to lose.
In all, Cunningham made just one appearance for the Patriots before he was poached off the practice squad by the Ravens. To exacerbate the situation, the Ravens are now attempting to activate Cunningham on the field, something the Patriots ought to have done from the beginning. Over the weekend, it came to light that Baltimore is still working to turn Cunningham into a wide receiver.
“Malik Cunningham is now officially listed as a WR (not QB) on the Ravens’ roster, btw,” team writer Ryan Mink wrote on Twitter/X. With multiple grabs today, he gave the impression that was the right decision.
By the way, Malik Cunningham is now officially listed on the Ravens roster as a wide receiver (WR, not QB). He made multiple grabs today to make it seem like the right decision.
Cunningham was signed by the Patriots as an undrafted free agent a year ago, and was guaranteed $200,000, which marked a franchise record for an UDFA.
There was good reason for this. Cunningham was also a record-setter at Louisville, where he followed Ravens star Lamar Jackson’s footsteps as the Cardinals quarterback. The two were teammates for Cunningham’s freshman year in 2018, and Cunnigham went on to account for 120 touchdowns, which broke Jackson’s school record for TDs, in 47 starts with Louisville.
During his time in college, Cunningham also ran for 3,318 yards, surpassing the 1,000-yard plateau as a junior, and threw for 9,664 yards. Although he lacks Jackson’s arm strength and would have received a higher quarterback rating otherwise, his effectiveness as a dual-threat quarterback led to many comparisons between the two.
“I do grow a little tired of it, but who wouldn’t want to be compared to Kendrick Lamar?”Cunningham mentioned prior year. “I mean, the legendary Lamar is, in my view, the greatest college football player in history.Just a big brother and role model to me, and I appreciate a lot of the things he does for me.
Malik Cunningham Never Got a Shot
Jackson might be passing to Cunningham right now. Naturally, it would be wonderful if Cunningham was receiving passes from Drake Maye.
Cunningham made his NFL debut in a preseason game against the Texans, spearheading the team’s lone scoring drive while going 3-for-4 passing for 19 yards and adding 34 yards of rushing, including a touchdown with 1:54 remaining in the game. The only indication of life from the Pats that evening was the drive he directed, which spanned 14 plays and 75 yards.
While he got some work at quarterback, he did most of his practice squad work for the Patriots at receiver. There was some excitement when he was given a standard contract last October, and speculation was rampant that he’d grow to play a larger role in the quarterback or receiver rotation, or both.
After the Patriots signed him, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler commented, “It wasn’t a throwaway transaction.” According to what I’ve been told, the coaches are talking about how to include Cunningham in the lineup somewhat significantly—possibly even this week against Buffalo.
But he was mistaken. It was a one-time deal, as Cunningham was cut by the Patriots and returned to the practice squad ten days later. In New England, we never got much of a look at him. In Baltimore, he is someone to watch.
