Patriots Predicted To Cut Notable Pair Of Young Playmakers

The New England Patriots added a few pieces to the roster this offseason, but they may cut two playmakers.

Evan Lazar from Patriots.com believes that Malik Cunningham and sixth-round pick Kayshon Boutte could leave the team before the start of the new season. Cunningham joined the Patriots as an undrafted free agent. He was a top quarterback at Louisville, but the Patriots tried him as a wide receiver in minicamp. Lazar reported that the Patriots will probably stick with five receivers and he doesn’t see Cunningham in this group.

“As for the fifth receiver spot, Douglas gets the nod due to his versatility and potential as a gadget/slot type, along with Boutte’s injury,” Lazar detailed. “You can’t make the club from the tub.”

Patriots may cut the playmakers despite their great skills

In 27 games at LSU, Boutte had 131 catches for 1,782 yards and 16 touchdowns. He is prone to injuries and even underwent two surgeries to fix his ankle.

Cunningham was brilliant at Louisville. He didn’t really try himself as a receiver before this offseason, but really wanted to make things work with the Patriots.

#Patriots UDFA QB Malik Cunningham continued to do some work with the receivers at today’s #Patriots practice pic.twitter.com/xocom5iePV

— Patriots on CLNS (@PatriotsCLNS) June 9, 2023

“Cunningham was better than expected but needs at least a year to develop on the practice squad,” Lazar wrote.

New England gave Cunningham a chance to play his best football and he tried a different role on the football field.

“There’s some days where I’m like, man I’m overwhelmed. But I just take a deep breath and take it day by day,” Cunningham told reporters via FOX Sports’ Henry McKenna.

Belichick likes versatile players and Cunningham is really amazing. He has the perfect role model and yes, we have a feeling that he could be the next Julian Edelman. Let’s not forget that Jules was a quarterback at Kent State, too.

“Just the culture and the Julian Edelman stories — the guys that played quarterback in college and moved over to receiver,” Cunningham told the media. “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.”