Tight end has been the lifeblood of the Baltimore Ravens offense since the franchise’s inception in 1996. From Shannon Sharpe to Todd Heap to Dennis Pitta, Baltimore has had loads of talent at the position and has always known how to use them.
Mark Andrews is going into his eighth season with the Ravens, and he’s already considered the best tight end in the team’s history by most. However, the future is uncertain after an inconsistent 2024 campaign, and his contract ends following 2025.
Recently, publications have brought the option of trading Andrews back to the table. Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report gave each team one player they should consider trading, and NFL Spin Zone’s Sayre Bedinger mentioned a trade or signing each team should make following OTAs.
Both articles highlighted Andrews as a trade candidate. And this would bring more negatives than positives for Baltimore.
Baltimore must let Andrews play out the final year of his deal
Trade speculation around Andrews has been nonstop this offseason. Rumors have been circulating since his unfortunate performance in the Divisional Round against the Buffalo Bills in last year’s playoffs, where Baltimore fell in a heartbreaker. The talks came to a head following the NFL Draft, and it seems like he’s a lock to be a Raven in 2025.
While some still believe Eric DeCosta should capitalize on Andrews’ time in Baltimore and get draft capital in a trade, Andrews can be a key contributor to a Super Bowl run this season.
His 2025 was underwhelming from a yardage standpoint, especially considering how it ended. After a slow start, however, he came on strong in the second half. He caught a touchdown in the team’s final six games and had 11 in the final 12 games. The All-Pro version of Andrews is still there, and it could be re-unlocked in 2025.
The relationship between Lamar Jackson and Andrews is also one that shouldn’t get broken up just yet. The two-time MVP and three-time Pro Bowler have unreal chemistry, which is seen by Andrews’ franchise-leading 51 touchdown receptions. You never want to upset your franchise quarterback, especially when he’s in the prime of his career. Trading Andrews would likely do that and raise some eyebrows in the Ravens’ locker room.
Baltimore is in a competitive stretch where they've consistently been among the league’s best. While Isaiah Likely is expected to replace Andrews after 2025, the team has proven they can use both on the field simultaneously. It’s another dimension of the offense that makes them the most threatening unit in the league, and they shouldn’t get rid of that versatility before the season.
Sure, the writing is on the wall for the end of Andrews’ tenure with the Ravens, but trading him wouldn’t be the right move. He’s still a tremendous player, and at this point in the offseason, the value on the trade market likely isn’t there if they did opt to entertain a deal.
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