Could Baltimore Ravens' New 'Triple-Threat' Malik Cunningham Help Playoff Push?

The Baltimore Ravens have bolstered their quarterback depth with the signing of rookie signal-caller Malik Cunningham off the New England Patriots practice squad, per multiple reports. Which will reunite him with fellow former Louisville and current Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, who was on the same team back in 2017 as a member of the Cardinals.

The Baltimore Ravens have bolstered their quarterback depth with the signing of rookie signal-caller Malik Cunningham off the New England Patriots practice squad, per multiple reports. Which will reunite him with fellow former Louisville and current Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, who was on the same team back in 2017 as a member of the Cardinals. 

But who is Malik Cunningham?

Cunningham was signed as an undrafted free agent by the New England Patriots immediately after last April's NFL Draft. How badly did they want Cunningham? He was paid the largest UDFA guaranteed money in franchise history, $200,000.

Malik Cunningham / FanStreamSports.com

Cunningham at Louisville and was a dual-threat signal caller. But what about a triple-threat quarterback?

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 who can 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 Ravens' new addition, Malik Cunningham, could fit 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.

BREAKING: Ravens Sign Ex-Patriots QB Cunningham

“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 in August. Cunningham's success leading the New England offense in the preseason 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?