With just about one week to go before the 2025 NFL Draft, the Baltimore Ravens still have to figure out a key offseason question: What will the team do with Mark Andrews?
It’s a question that many have been pondering ever since Baltimore’s AFC Divisional Playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills. Andrews has one year left on his contract and carries a cap hit of $16 million. Then there’s Isaiah Likely waiting in the wings.
General Manager Eric DeCosta held his pre-draft presser on Tuesday and spoke about the situation with Andrews. Remember, these pressers are usually referred to as the “Liars Luncheon,” but DeCosta seemed to go more in-depth about Andrews than some expected. DeCosta said:
"I never know what's going to happen, but I can tell you this, Mark Andrews is a warrior. He's a great player and we're in the business of keeping as many great players as we can."
That certainly wasn't a 100% guarantee that Andrews will be on the team next year. Baltimore's general manager knows full well the cap hit Andrews carries on the team. He knows that Andrews could get him a good return on draft day. That's where it comes down to.
Eric DeCosta isn't the only one weighing in on Mark Andrews' future
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport spoke more about Baltimore's thinking and Andrews' future. He seemed very cautious about it and thought there was a chance that Andrews would get traded. Plus, he factors in Likely and his chances to start. He described it as, "very, very much up in the air" of whether Andrews is traded or not. Rapoport said:
"You have Isaiah Likely, really good young player, emerging young player, who when Andrews was not on the field looked like a number one tight end. Going to make $3 million dollars next year. Teams generally like to lock up these kind of players to long term lucrative extensions. Make sure they are taken care of and move on from there."
"I wouldn't be surprised, based on what I'm hearing, if some team does come in and make the Ravens an offer they can't refuse even though it is very clear Mark Andrews means a lot to them and they really, really value the person and the player."
Likely was drafted in the 4th round of the 2022 NFL Draft and has shown flashes of his talent when given the opportunity. Like Andrews, he’s also entering a contract year.
Andrews has been with the Ravens since being drafted in 2018 out of Oklahoma and has become one of the best offensive skill players in team history. He's been one of the best tight ends in the NFL his whole career, alongside Travis Kelce and George Kittle.
Next week, as the draft approaches, this situation should be resolved. It’ll either end with the Ravens keeping him on the roster or trading him for an offer they can’t refuse. If it’s the latter, that drop on a cold winter night in Buffalo becomes fans’ lasting image of Andrews in a Ravens uniform—despite how good he’s been for Baltimore. It would be a sad ending to an otherwise great run.