Surprising Comp For Patriots' Malik Cunningham?

Players that have the unique ability to throw, run, and catch at the highest level of football are rare. Could New England Patriots quarterback Malik Cunningham be the next?

The NFL rarely sees a triple-threat player these days. Quarterbacks that can throw and run aren't uncommon and haven't been for a while. But players that have the ability to throw, run, and catch routinely at the highest level are unique.

The name that comes to mind in today's NFL is Taysom Hill. The New Orleans Saints' triple-threat "quarterback" was the only player in the league last season to play double-digit snaps under center and at wideout, per ESPN.

But, now, as Jedi Master Yoda once revealed in The Empire Strikes Back: "There is another."

The Patriots' Malik Cunningham is on his way to fitting that same mold. Cunningham, of course, spent his time at Louisville as a quarterback, passing for 9,964 yards and 70 touchdowns in 56 games from 2018 to 2022. Cunningham also ran for 3,182 yards on 619 carries, a 5.1 yards per carry average.

But since arriving in New England, Cunningham has been working out mostly at receiver, as well as some time on special teams utilizing his speed. But his performance at quarterback in the Patriots' first preseason game is what garnered the most attention.

Cunningham completed 3-of-4 passes for 19 yards, but also ran five times for 34 yards, including a 9-yard touchdown run late in the game.

“Cunningham has generated early momentum to be a Hill-type option for the Patriots, even working as a gunner on the punt coverage team,” ESPN wrote. Cunningham's success leading the New England offense came after the Patriots struggled to move the ball with any rhythm. 

“He can turn a bad play into a home run and a special play quicker than just about anyone I’ve seen, especially at the quarterback position,” Louisville offensive coordinator Lance Taylor told ESPN back in May. “He’s so unique with his skill set.”

According to ESPN, just three players have played 50 plays at both quarterback and receiver in the same season in the past 15 years. Hill is one of them. Could Cunningham become the fourth?

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