Patriots Malik vs. Zappe: Belichick 'Dreaming' of Dual-Threat QB?

After his standout preseason debut, Malik Cunningham could be pushing for the backup quarterback spot on the New England Patriots depth chart behind Mac Jones.

New England Patriots legend Rob Gronkowski claims Bill Belichick has always fantasized about having a dual-threat quarterback.

"He always kind of dreamed of a quarterback that wasn't just a pocket passer, but like a Lamar Jackson-type, the one that could be able to run the ball as well," Gronkowski said last Spring. "I just feel like he likes those types of quarterbacks from all the times he talked about them in meetings and stuff when we were going against them."

One preseason performance by undrafted rookie Malik Cunningham isn't enough to make Foxboro dreams become reality, but ...

Despite not picking up the win in their preseason opener versus the Houston Texans, the Patriots still have positives to take away from the game. The biggest development is that Cunningham may have a future at quarterback rather than receiver. 

The free agent from Louisville, who is already drawing lofty comparisons from fans to another former Cardinals quarterback Lamar Jackson, played two positions for the Patriots against the Texans: as a receiver for 10 snaps before switching to quarterback for 16, according to Pro Football Focus. 

Those in-game snaps have now translated into more reps in practice as the signal-caller. According to multiple reports, during the Patriots' practice on Sunday - their first since the loss to the Texans - Cunningham got "extensive" reps at quarterback, according to CLNS's Taylor Kyles. 

Kyles reported that the undrafted rookie was "rotating" reps with starting quarterback Mac Jones and working on "different quarterback-centric run plays."

While, as Kyles suggests, it is too early to tell if the switch in the allotment of practice reps means the Patriots see Cunningham as their backup behind Jones instead of Zappe, it is a potential competition to keep an eye on. 

In his 16 snaps under center, Cunningham managed to impress as he showed off his true dual-threat ability against the Texans, picking up 34 yards and a touchdown with his legs, in addition to completing three of his four passes for 19 yards. 

Unlike many other rookie quarterbacks who took snaps in the first weekend of preseason games, Cunningham didn't even put the ball in harm's way, as his only incompletion looked to have been his best throw. 

Still not over this throw from Malik Cunningham.

pic.twitter.com/jxB4OTJLXj

— Mike Kadlick (@mikekadlick) August 11, 2023

Rolling out of the pocket on third down and two, Cunningham fired the ball downfield to Tre Nixon, who dropped it in the middle of the end zone. 

While that mishandle by Nixon undoubtedly hurt Cunningham, he managed to make up for it as he finished off the drive with a highlight rushing touchdown as he juked two Texans at the line of scrimmage before scoring the Patriots' only touchdown.

It is way too early and even unrealistic to compare Cunningham to Jackson. But if the undrafted free agent manages to make the roster, the Patriots could start digging up game tape on how the Pittsburgh Steelers used Kordell "Slash" Stewart for inspiration on how to get No. 16 on the field, whether that be at quarterback, receiver, or even running back. 

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