‘He’s got all types of potential’
Ravens add fourth QB Malik Cunningham with eyes on the future
Lamar Jackson draped his arm around Malik Cunningham’s shoulder, making the Ravens’ newest quarterback feel welcome at his first practice with the team after he was signed Tuesday off the New England Patriots’ practice squad.
Cunningham was a redshirt at Louisville during Jackson’s last season there in 2017, and they’ve mutually admired one another in the years since.
“He’s got all types of potential,” Jackson said of the man who threw for 9,660 yards and ran for another 3,179 while following in his college footsteps. “He’s a great quarterback — explosive, can throw the ball anywhere on the field, make guys miss. He can do it all.”
It was unusual to see the Ravens trot out four quarterbacks — Jackson, Cunningham, backup Tyler Huntley and veteran thirdstringer Josh Johnson are all on the 53-man roster — for Wednesday’s practice, but it’s a luxury they can afford for the time being given their healthy roster.
“It’s definitely different, a unique situation,” coach John Harbaugh said. “From a quarterback perspective, it’s a future type of a move. I think [general manager] Eric [DeCosta] would describe it like that.”
Huntley, 25, and Johnson, 37, will be free agents after this season. If Cunningham fits in as well as the Ravens hope, he could
become a low-cost candidate to back up Jackson next season.
“It’s going to be really interesting to see how he develops,” Harbaugh said of Cunningham. “He’s a quarterback; there’s no doubt about that. He’s here to develop as a quarterback. This is an opportunity. I think when you’re a general manager, you’ve got to look for all those opportunities, and Eric, he’s the best, so he does that.”
Cunningham will also work at wide receiver and special teams, where he could help the Ravens sooner rather than later. “He’s a very talented person, so he’ll contribute every way he can,” Harbaugh said.
The 25-year-old went undrafted after he spent six years at Louisville, in part because he measured 6 feet tall and a slight 192 pounds at the NFL scouting combine. The Ravens (10-3) showed interest in him as a free agent, but the Patriots (3-10) won the bidding for his services. He was New England’s backup quarterback for one game this season and was elevated from the practice squad for two others after working at wide receiver and on special teams during training camp.
At his news conference Wednesday, New England coach Bill Belichick said the Ravens convinced Cunningham to switch teams by pitching his potential fit in their offense.
“I think they sold him on the opportunity, the offense,” Belichick told New England reporters. “He and Lamar. Certainly, their offense suits Malik better than probably any other offense in the league does. It makes sense.”
The Ravens were happy to swoop in with an eye on next year when their salary cap outlook will be complicated.
“We feel like he’s got a great future in the league,” Harbaugh said.