Patriots Want To Recreate Julian Edelman With Former QB

The New England Patriots lost Julian Edelman a few years ago. It was a big loss for the team and head coach Bill Belichick has been trying to replace him with multiple players. The Patriots didn’t have much luck so far, but they may receive similar performance from a former QB.

Malik Cunningham has had great moments as quarterback, but he will probably continue playing as wide receiver with the Patriots. As you may remember, Edelman was a former quarterback as well.

According to several sources, Cunningham will switch positions and the Patriots want him to follow Edelman’s footsteps. Mark Daniels from MassLive.com reported that the Patriots were the only team to work the former Louisville QB as a receiver in the pre-draft weeks.

Bill O’Brien will be the Patriots offensive coordinator in 2023 and he seem to have a plan for Cunningham. “The reason he (Cunningham) opted to sign with the Patriots and play a new position was due to Edelman.” This makes sense in so many levels. Cunningham will follow the same pattern, and hopefully, he will have similar success as the 2018 Super Bowl MVP.

The former QB could channel his inner Edelman and help the Patriots win

Cunningham said it himself. “Just the culture and the Julian Edelman stories – the guys that played quarterback in college and moved over to receiver. Seeing those guys do it and I know – not that I’m more athletic than those guys but we’re all on the same level, so I feel like I can do it.”

It’s a big step for Cunningham, but he is motivated. This motivation could keep him playing at a high level.

It may be difficult for Cunningham, because he has never ran a route ever in his life. He “has dropped multiple passes in OTAs and on Monday, he had a pass nearly in his hands broken up by Isaiah Bolden,” but he has plenty of time to adjust to his new position.

Malik Cunningham. Listed as a quarterback, running routes with the receivers.

Julian Edelman made a similar transition a few years back.@ABC6 #ForeverNE pic.twitter.com/wgX5aV9XtT

— Ian Steele (@IanSteeleABC6) June 12, 2023