It’s no secret that the New England Patriots offense is atrocious this season. Changing coordinators didn’t help, as Bill O’Brien, in his first season as the Patriots’ play-caller, is leading the NFL’s last-place scoring attack at 13.3 points per game.
Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe haven’t been able to jumpstart the offense. Could Malik Cunningham have done better? That’s been a common question, not just among spectators but also among those within the Patriots locker room too.
Cunningham, a former college QB, practiced primarily as a wide receiver and on special teams after landing with the Patriots as an undrafted rookie out of Louisville. Yet, the Patriots also gave him scant opportunities at QB during training camp and a few chances in the preseason too. While we don’t know what happened during training camp, once Cunningham took the field in exhibition action, it was clear he provided a spark.
He completed just 3-of-6 passes for 19 yards, but Cunningham also ran six times for 39 yards, including a nine-yard touchdown. It was a drive Patriots left tackle Trent Brown characterized as “probably the most exciting drive we had in that stadium this season.”
While the Patriots struggled out to a 2-9 record with former first-round pick Mac Jones or Bailey Zappe, who’s led a 1-2 record, another option lingered. The Patriots never called Cunningham’s name when he was on the roster. Then, on Dec. 12, the Baltimore Ravens plucked Cunningham off the Patriots’ practice squad, where he now operates as the team’s fourth QB behind former Louisville teammate Lamar Jackson, Tyler Huntley, and Josh Johnson.
While Cunningham has no chance to help the Patriots now since he’s on a different team, AtoZSports.com recently asked current Patriots left tackle, Trent Brown, if players felt Cunningham deserved a shot at QB when he was in New England. Brown had a quick response:
“Absolutely. Everybody on the team did. Everybody. It’s funny because I told him months ago if they ever called, if anybody, that’s the team where he should go. It was almost like I saw it coming. And that’s really good for him to actually get a real chance to play his real position.”
Now Cunningham is in Baltimore, where he has a chance to quickly become Lamar Jackson’s primary backup. Josh Johnson, the No. 3 QB in Baltimore, is 37 this season, so chances are he won’t come back next year. The same goes for Tyler Huntley, the No. 2 QB, who’s set for free agency. As a soon-to-be 26-year-old free agent, it’s possible Huntley receives interest on the open market in a situation where he has an earlier/easier path to playing time.
Then again, finding a better fit for Huntley than playing in the same offense as Jackson does might be difficult, which is why Cunningham is a perfect for Baltimore, as his former Patriots teammate alluded to. However, for the Ravens, Cunningham would be a much more affordable option than Huntley for the next few seasons.
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