Really I’m just confused… They made Cunningham the highest paid UDFA in league history, then they cut him (and Zappe and McSorley, leaving Mac as the sole quarterback). They then sign Matt Corral, who ends up gone in less than two weeks. They then sign Ian Book to the practice squad, who ends up gone in less than one week. Then there’s a shuffle between the returned Bailey Zappe and the newly signed Will Grier at backup. Then Malik Cunningham is resigned off the practice squad to a three year contract, but there’s also four quarterbacks on the roster. But despite being signed to a three year contract, Cunningham is cut less than two weeks after.
I’ve been watching football for a long time, I get how the roster bubble/practice squad shuffle works. But this… what the actual fuck. I’m not a Pats fan so feel free to haze me for not understanding, but shuffling between six quarterbacks at the QB2 slot is not normal, and I really don’t understand how it helps the team. I understand the Belichick is a crafty guy and always has something up his sleeve; when I read more about Malik Cunningham, I’m sure I’m not the only one who thought “that’s the new Edelman”. Perhaps that’s a reductive conclusion, but still, I don’t get how this whole quarterback shuffle thing makes the team stronger at QB2.
Then there’s Malik Cunningham specifically, I’ve seen him get a lot of hype, but what is actually the idea with him? Is he a guy you think can legitimately become a franchise quarterback one day, or is he a gimmick player? And also, I know I said it already, but WHY sign him to a three year contract and then cut him days later. None of this makes any sense, so explain pls.