Amid a disappointing season, the Baltimore Ravens have countless questions facing the team both now and heading into the future. After a stunning loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Thanksgiving night, they sit at 6-6 with a playoff berth in question.
Of course, their current focus is on fixing their flaws in 2025 to make a playoff run, but the team will need significant reconstruction in the 2026 offseason. Many key players are expected to hit free agency, and General Manager Eric DeCosta will need to work his magic to keep the team competitive moving forward.
Among those areas in question is the tight end position. Each of Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely, and Charlie Kolar is without a contract following this season, and while it is clear one or more of them will hold the answer moving forward, the question is: which one?
All three of them have failed to contribute at the level of a quality starting tight end in 2025, especially for a franchise with a storied tight end history like the Ravens. However, each has shown glimpses of being a top-tier option at the spot. The player who could end up being the eventual starter may be the least expected guy: Charlie Kolar.
Charlie Kolar is turning in an encouraging season with a pivotal offseason ahead
Kolar has been the least utilized of the tight end trio. Andrews has logged the most snaps at 474, Likely has seen 318, and Kolar has 285. Kolar has especially seen a lack of usage in the passing game, seeing just 86 reps in passing situations. Still, he is making the most of those chances, accounting for eight receptions, 105 yards, and two touchdowns.
The area where Kolar is truly making his mark, though, is as a run blocker. For a run-first team, those efforts should land him a new contract extension in Charm City. Overall, he has registered a 69.8 overall grade, per Pro Football Focus, including a 73.1 grade on passing downs and a 64.0 run blocking grade.
It is unlikely that Kolar would be the lone tight end to return. DeCosta may have to pick between Andrews and Likely to lead the group in 2026, while Kolar could serve as a more than serviceable backup. In fact, if Kolar continues to impress the coaching staff as he has been and earns more reps down the stretch, there could be a scenario where he plays himself into a starting role sometime down the line.
For now, Kolar may be the most obvious candidate to stick around. He should not cost too much, and with Andrews and Likely anticipating deals that could reach a higher price, Kolar could ultimately be a strong insurance plan with potential to pay off by giving starter contributions.