Malik Cunningham embracing position change from quarterback to receiver with Ravens

Malik Cunningham was Lamar Jackson‘s successor at Louisville. They’re now on the same NFL team — the Ravens — but Cunningham no longer is Jackson’s backup.

Why? Well, Cunningham no longer is even a quarterback. He’s now officially a receiver, with Ravens coach John Harbaugh figuring that the now former quarterback had skills the team could utilize.

The idea of a position switch was suggested back in April, before the NFL Draft. Cunningham told the coaches “I’m all in.”

Putting the QB dream (at least) on pause isn't easy for Malik Cunningham, but he's embracing the challenge of converting to wide receiver.

Here's what Cunningham has to say about the move, his time in New England, and doing something Lamar (maybe) can't.https://t.co/2Hzw6ODx9k

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But he did have some reservations.

“At first, I looked at it as like, ‘Dang man, I want to be a quarterback,'” Cunningham told reporters earlier this month. “But at the same time, you have to do what’s best for the team and that’s how I looked at it. I was like, ‘Hey, I can make plays for the quarterbacks out there when I get the ball in space.’ So I looked at it as a plus, not as a fail.

“I believe in myself and my ability. Yeah, I can play quarterback. But that’s now what they need me to do right now. They need me to do something else. I’m the type of guy, whatever it takes for the team to win.”

The Patriots signed Cunningham as an undrafted free agent in April, 2023. Bill Belichick was the head coach at the time. And he kicked around the idea of moving Cunningham to receiver or at least using a special package of plays for the talented backup quarterback. When starting quarterback Mac Jones started floundering in the regular season, Belichick mentioned it again.

Malik Cunningham is a gamer. pic.twitter.com/yeMXxxYgl1

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But Cunningham stayed on the practice squad. The Patriots promoted him to the active roster for three days in early December, then effectively released him. Days later, the Ravens signed him as they ramped up for a playoff run.

Why not have Jackson’s college No. 2 back him up in the NFL?

“Honestly, I’m gonna just keep it real. Where I grew up, like a lot of us, we’re just straight ballers,” Cunningham said. “When I got to middle school, I went strictly quarterback, but I’ve always been athletic. I really, honestly, don’t think Lamar can go out there and do that, what I’m doing right now. … There ain’t nothing that nobody can say to me that I can’t do if I put my mind to it, honestly.”

Harbaugh told reporters that Cunningham stood out in OTAs as a receiver. He mostly lined up in the slot.

“He’s shown a lot of speed, a lot of quickness,” Harbaugh said. “Kind of a natural at the position. I’ve seen that he understands the game from the perspective of the quarterback, so [his] routes and coverage and timing and things like that have been excellent.”

The Ravens will gather together again for preseason training camp. The first practice is July 21.