The Baltimore Ravens will be looking to make a statement this year. After a season that everyone would like to forget, the team looks light-years better, and they’re prepared to remind everyone of how dangerous they are.
That statement will require bounce-backs from several players. On defense, there are veterans like Marlon Humphrey and Roquan Smith who are coming off possibly the worst showings of their careers. On offense, Mark Andrews has had a bit of a fall from grace.
Andrews might be in the most pressure-packed position of any player not named Lamar Jackson. He’s coming off back-to-back disappointing seasons, and after the Ravens let Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar depart in free agency, all eyes are on Andrews. He needs to reclaim his spot among the NFL’s elite tight ends.
Baltimore Ravens desperately need Mark Andrews to return to form in 2026
Even after those free agency losses at tight end, the Ravens haven’t really done much to replace them. They signed Durham Smythe and drafted Matthew Hibner and Josh Cuevas on Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft, but none of those guys are impact playmakers. At least they won’t be out of the gates. That makes Andrews’ 2026 critical.
Baltimore is paying Andrews like he is still capable of high-level production. They made the somewhat controversial decision to extend him last year, signing him to a three-year deal worth $39.3 million. That ranks ninth in the NFL for tight ends based on total value. Clearly, the organization still has faith in him.
People believe that Andrews can return to form, too. In a recent article for CBS Sports, Tyler Sullivan highlighted one breakout candidate from each AFC team in 2026. For Baltimore, he called for an Andrews resurgence. Sullivan wrote:
"“Remember, the Ravens saw fellow tight end Isaiah Likely leave in free agency to sign a deal with the Giants. That leaves 36 targets from 2025 up for grabs, and the Ravens didn't bring in much competition to take over Likely's role … Andrews should have the eye of Lamar Jackson even more than he has over the past few seasons, setting the stage for a bounce-back campaign in 2026.”"Tyler Sullivan, CBS Sports
Andrews has always had Lamar Jackson’s eye whenever he’s on the field, but this year feels like we could see a return to the partnership we saw from 2019 to 2022, when Andrews was consistently in Pro Bowl conversation. There’s not really anyone competing heavily for tight end targets.
It also helps that Andrews was a standout during Baltimore’s workouts. He received some praise from new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle, who specifically highlighted his work ethic as a key separator. That could play a pivotal role in the 30-year-old's rebound from a rough, injury-riddled stretch.
For what it’s worth, Andrews has shown he can still be a dynamic factor through the air. Although the numbers from a yards standpoint haven’t been there, he remains a reliable red zone threat for Jackson to turn to. He has 56 career touchdown receptions to his name, which includes at least five in each of the past seven seasons. Oh yeah, and he has one extra touchdown on the ground from that unbelievable 35-yard scamper against the Cleveland Browns in 2025.
Ultimately, 2026 will be a season where fans will hope to see Andrews reintroduce himself as one of the better tight ends in the sport. And off the field, he’ll need to play a part in mentoring the rookie tight ends, Matthew Hibner and Josh Cuevas. Simply put, it’s a big year for Andrews. We'll have to wait and see if he's up to the task.
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