Verdict:
Draft position can mean nothing. Someone whose selected higher compared to that later round pick doesn’t guarantee success. That could very well be the case for the Ravens tight end position in 2018.
However, Hayden Hurst will snag the edge over Mark Andrews for a bigger rookie impact. I expect both tight ends to be productive, but Hurst simply brings more to the table than Andrews currently.
Knowing what Andrews does for you in the receiving game would make you think he’s going to have a greater impact than Hurst. From a receiving standpoint, Andrews probably has that edge. But you don’t spend a round one pick on a tight end who can’t catch. Hurst showed off that ability plenty of times with South Carolina. Yes, Andrews has more impressive career numbers, but Hurst was still solid with a worse quarterback and a tougher conference. This truly comes down to complete value, and Hurst has him beat as a more well-rounded tight end.
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I fully expect Andrews to make an impact as a rookie. With no real threat to snag snaps away from the two, both will see heavy doses of action as rookies, which leaves plenty of opportunity for them to leave an impact. With the Ravens looking to reinvent the offense in 2018, look for a reemergence at the tight end position in terms of value to the passing game.
Hurst and Andrews will both be busy men from day one in Baltimore. In terms of who leaves the bigger impact, it’s hard for Ravens fans to be upset with whoever edges out the other. So long as both are successful, the Ravens have a great problem to have for the upcoming season.