One of the biggest questions throughout the season was why the New England Patriots never gave rookie quarterback Malik Cunningham a legitimate shot under center.
He came off the bench in the preseason and rushed for a touchdown, along with showing his ability to make throws on the move. It’s a unique skill set the Patriots lacked with Mac Jones, Bailey Zappe and Will Grier.
So it was no surprise fans wanted to see Cunningham get an opportunity at quarterback when the season was lost. Oddly enough, the Patriots never gave the rookie signal-caller that chance, and instead, they used him as a wide receiver and occasional scout team quarterback at practice.
That was until the Baltimore Ravens signed him off New England’s practice squad back in mid-December. The Boston Herald’s Andrew Callahan and Doug Kyed reported on Thursday, via NESN’s Adam London, that sources told them Cunningham made the right decision to leave the Patriots.
The Herald wrote:
According to sources, some organization members told Cunningham he had made the right decision to leave New England.
The report followed up with a source claiming the Patriots “had no plan” for Cunningham.
If there was no plan in place, then why did the Patriots sign Cunningham in the first place? Not only did they sign him to a deal, but they gave him a franchise-record $200,000 in guaranteed money.
Even coach Bill Belichick admitted the Ravens were better suited for handling Cunningham’s talent.
“They (the Ravens) sold him on the opportunity, the offense, Lamar. Certainly, their offense suits Malik better than any offense in the league, so it makes sense,” Belichick said, after Cunningham signed with the Ravens.
It’s another head-scratcher of a situation for a Patriots’ organization that’s had plenty of them this season.
