Scout's view: Rookie QB an outstanding bargain-bin pickup for Patriots

Daniel Kelly spent four years in pro scouting with the New York Jets. He is the published author of the book "Whatever It Takes," the story of a fan making it into the NFL. 

Every year there's an unheralded NFL rookie who seemingly comes out of nowhere. This season that player may be the New England Patriots' Malik Cunningham, who made his preseason debut Thursday against the Houston Texans. 

Now, Cunningham wasn't unheralded to me. I had a first-round grade on the former Louisville QB. He met my first-round prerequisites by being a difference-maker with a skill set that translates to the NFL. 

But Cunningham went undrafted and was snapped up by the Patriots soon after the draft for $200,000 guaranteed and a $30,000 signing bonus — a record amount for an undrafted New England player. As demonstrated by San Francisco QB Brock Purdy, Mr. Irrelevant as the last pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, it doesn't always matter when you are selected as much as it matters who selects you. 

That's why big things could be in store for Cunningham, who's lucky to play for Bill Belichick, arguably the best coach of all time. "The Hoody," of course, drafted QB Tom Brady in the sixth round in 2000, and he did OK in the league.

Now, I'm not comparing Cunningham to Purdy or Brady. Before his senior season, however, Cunningham drew comparisons to Baltimore Ravens dual-threat star Lamar Jackson, another former Louisville QB. Cunningham left the school with a higher passer rating (151.8) than Jackson (142.9), but Jackson has a better time in the 40-yard dash (unofficial 4.34 to Cunningham's 4.53).

At Louisville, Cunningham rushed for 3,179 yards and 50 touchdowns and threw for 9,660 yards and 70 TDs. He left school with a 62.9% completion percentage. 

We won't know for a while if Belichick has outsmarted the league again. He initially slotted Cunningham as a receiver, but he didn't make a catch against Houston. During the season, I expect New England to unveil a "Malik Package," which will incorporate the triple-threat Cunningham into a mismatch nightmare offensive scheme. Meanwhile, he'll back up Bailey Zappe and starter Mac Jones at QB.