Shades of Randall -Malik Cunningham, University of Louisville

First Round Mock’s NFL Draft Analyst William Yanish has looked at Louisville’s quarterback, Malik Cunningham and comes away with some unpopular conclusions.

Raw.

That is how to explain quarterback(QB) Malik Cunningham out of the University of Louisville. It’s a difficult thing to say about a four-year starter, but the coaching staff built the offense there with a heavy run-heavy scheme. It was built to the player’s specific strengths.

Run, run, and run some more.

Cunningham is exactly that, lightning in a bottle when it comes to running. Is he Florida’s QB, Anthony Richardson, who some refer to as “AR-15?”

No, he’s “MC-3,” which is my affectionate nickname for him. Louisville’s QB is a whole new model.

I have a hard time believing this kid isn’t related to QB Randall Cunningham of Philadelphia Eagles’ fame, because “shades of Randall” are definitely there.

After watching four of this Louisville QB’s games and the recent Reese’s Senior Bowl, Cunningham hit, “My BIG Three Quarterbacks 2023.” It was personally disappointing to see him leave in the third quarter of that game.

I just want more when I watch him.

All of the games are over now. Only the NFL Combine and pro-days remain. Those are not as important, though. Scripted workouts and throwing sessions, often do nothing, but build a false sense of the prospects.

Getting into it

Cunningham is everything I thought he would be before I jumped into this evaluation.

I was absolutely excited when I found out the National Team in Mobile, Alabama would be featuring him.

It was also interesting watching the Louisville and Ole Miss game (2021) as defensively they played the old “spy-role” on Cunningham. This was something former Washington Redskins’ Defensive Coordinator, Richie Petitbon specialized in when playing against Randall Cunningham back in the day.

Ole Miss doing that (as well as playing zone coverage in the middle of the field), kept the Louisville QB in check. A simple and basic concept worked.

Evolution of a QB

Game film in 2022 absolutely flips-the-script, however. It revealed Cunningham’s progress.

From two years ago to this last season, you can see Cunningham growing. Against No. 10 ranked Wake Forest, he absolutely blew up. He was tossing passes with great touch and converting third-down plays when they had to have it. He ran for two-touchdowns (TD) as well in a lopsided victory.

What the game film says about “MC-3”

Absolute dynamic.

He plays bigger than he is. Not only is he a dangerous running threat, he shows improvement in pocket awareness over the past two seasons. It was noticeable how much more comfortable he looked at the helm.

Will Cunningham have issues digesting an NFL offensive playbook?

Concerns begin with the simple spread, Run-Pass-Option, concepts put employed by Louisville.

Best case scenario, Cunningham gets to sit behind an established veteran QB at the next level and learns, maybe getting in like New Orleans’ QB Taysom Hill does in a special package.

Footwork is okay, but it needs to improve, as he shows issue occasionally setting his feet before throwing. This leads to balls sailing and missing the mark completely. This is especially true when he’s under pressure, as his ball placement and accuracy suffer as a whole.

Cunningham has a strong arm, and shows great touch on intermediate to deep throws.

Is he a sure-fire pick? There’s no such thing.

Whoever drafts him needs a plan and a great QB coach. It will take some time, and patience. His new team will also need to let him be who he is.

The dividends could be HUGE.

What’s the difference between a good team at the end of the first-round selecting him, versus a struggling, QB needy team at the beginning of the second-round?

That could mean everything.

My BIG Three Questions

1. How will he adjust to a pro-style offense?

2. How will he adjust to the speed of the NFL, and will he take the next step in his evolution as a QB?

3. How much of a vision that I mentioned will his new team have for him?

How Cunningham stacks up and game film reviewed

Draft grade: Second-Round (top-45)

Pro comparison: Randall Cunningham

Game film reviewed:

FSU ’21

Ole Miss ’21 (worst)

Syracuse ’22

Wake Forest ’22 (Best)

William Yanish III is a life long football fan. He’s from the little town of Crawford, Colorado. Along the way, he’s lived in Dutch Harbor, Alaska and Brookings, Oregon. Quarterback Joe Montana was his idol growing up. A little bit of CTE from life’s adventures killed his dreams as a football player. Now, he is an aspiring writer and Draft Analyst at FirstRoundMock.com. He’s a fanatic with a dream, which is coming true.