The Ravens’ experiment with Malik Cunningham as a wide receiver appears set to continue into the 2024 season.
Cunningham, a former quarterback at Louisville, is currently on the team’s roster as a wide receiver, and during Friday’s OTA session he made “a couple of catches” that seemed to justify the switch. According to a reporter on the team’s website:.
With Baltimore having other quarterback options in reigning MVP and former Louisville star Lamar Jackson, veteran quarterback Josh Johnson and sixth-round pick Devin Leary, it will be tough for the 25-year-old to start under center.
That gives the Ravens offense and offensive coordinator Todd Monken some intriguing options to develop and fit into the 2024 season as the Ravens try to replicate the success they had in 2023 (when they went 13-4 and earned the top seed in the AFC but lost to the Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game).
Cunningham’s NFL career began when he signed with the Patriots as an undrafted quarterback after the 2023 NFL Draft, but was released after a disappointing preseason and rejoined the practice squad.
Then, in a strange turn of events, he ended up signing a three-year contract with the Patriots, only to be released again 10 days later.
The Ravens acquired Cunningham after a last-minute trade with New England. He played one game for the Ravens, but head coach John Harbaugh said he was “working out here and there as a receiver.” He spoke to reporters ahead of the 18th week..
Cunningham also appeared in one game for the Patriots, getting a total of 10 snaps in those two cameos.
“That remains to be seen,” Harbaugh said in April. According to the team’s websiteHe acknowledged that Cunningham’s role hadn’t been decided at the time: “We’ll look at him and see what he does. He’s definitely developing as a quarterback. He’s developing as a wide receiver. But he’s a good athlete. He’s a good person. He’s competitive and he wants to do well.”
Wide receiver Zay Flowers and tight end Mark Andrews accounted for the majority of Lamar Jackson’s targets when both were healthy.
