Positive update proves Patriots will be haunted by Malik Cunningham departure

When Bill Belichick quickly signed undrafted free agent quarterback Malik Cunningham almost immediately as the draft concluded, fans were excited about the prospect's potential in the Patriots offense. He fit the mold that many fans hoped would be the direction at quarterback for quite some time, especially as Mac Jones' stock began to fall.

It was clear he would be competing for reps throughout the spring summer, even more so because of Bailey Zappe's success when filling in for Jones during the 2023 season. But Belichick seemed uninterested in using Cunningham much during practices, at least at quarterback.

The dual-threat player was lining up all over the offense, taking reps as a receiver and even running back. He was still working as a quarterback, too, but not enough to believe he was ever going to get a fair shot.

Once the regular season began, Cunningham was used as a reliever during a losing effort against the Raiders, and that's about as much action as he saw with the team. He had been relegated to the practice squad, elevated a couple of times, and sent back to the B-team, which ultimately led to the Ravens wanting to sign him to be Lamar Jackson's backup.

Given his options and the potential to work with another Louisville alum with a similar playstyle, Cunningham left the Patriots much to the disappointment of his teammates, with Trent Brown being the most vocal about the situation.

Although he's not in line to replace the two time league MVP under center, Cunningham has made strides as a wide receiver and the latest update proves even futher that Belichick's stubbornness may have prevented the Patriots from having a legitimate secret weapon player.

Updates about Malik Cunningham's progress as a receiver might haunt the Patriots

Last month, Ravens' reporters revealed that the 25 year old would be switching from quarterback to wide receiver, something Cunningham was open to during his time with the Patriots. When given the chance during practices, the reviews were less than positive, but that's not that case in Baltimore.

Head coach John Harbaugh shared his early impressions of Cunningham's progress during minicamp earlier this month, and it looks like he has found his niche with his new team.

"Malik has looked good at wide receiver. He’s shown a lot of speed, a lot of quickness. (He’s) kind of a natural at the position. And I’ve seen that he understands the game from the perspective of the quarterback, so routes and coverage and timing and things like that have been excellent."

It might be early to conclude that Cunningham will be a solid piece to the Ravens' offense, but if Harbaugh is right in his assessment, it looks like Belichick made a big mistake by not properly utilizing him in any way he could.

It could become a situation in which the Patriots will have to watch from a distance as a player thrives in the opportunity he was given and wonders what could have been throughout his career. Although that wouldn't be a great spot to be in, it would be for Cunningham, who deserves the chance to fulfill his dream in the NFL.

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