When the Baltimore Ravens signed Mark Andrews to an extension late last season, it was a questionable decision. They had a couple of rising tight ends in Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar, and elected to extend Andrews on a three-year, $39.3 million deal.
As a result of the Andrews extension, the Ravens eventually lost Likely and Kolar in free agency, making the move all the more polarizing. However, it could still pay off. Some believe the veteran is due to bounce back, and if not, at least Andrews brings elite leadership traits to the table.
That is crucial when you have two rookie tight ends arriving in Charm City. Matt Hibner and Josh Cuevas were drafted in the 2026 NFL Draft and enter a tight end-friendly offense led by Declan Doyle. They’ll need to take the training wheels off as soon as possible—that’s where Andrews can help infinitely.
Baltimore Ravens’ rookie tight ends could receive boost from veteran leaders
In a perfect world, Andrews rebounds, gets back to his dominant ways, and continues to be a massive threat in the red zone. As he nears 31 years old, though, there’s a real chance that we don’t see that version of Andrews again. If he continues to regress, he needs to make an impact beyond the stat sheet.
Thankfully, it sounds like he’s already been doing that in training camp. Following Tuesday’s practice, Matt Hibner spoke a little about the importance of having a guy like Andrews in the tight end room.
“[Andrews’] character just speaks volumes,” Hibner said. “The way that he conducts his business…He just operates like a true pro, so it’s super cool to be here, to be able to look up to him, and be able to learn from him.”
That’s huge for Hibner, who has the potential to be a serious threat as a pass catcher with his athleticism and ability after the catch. It looks like it’s translating on the field, too, as reports have mentioned he has been the most productive of Baltimore’s tight end room. Maybe Andrews’ leadership is already taking effect.
As for Cuevas, he might operate more as a blocker, and he has just the mentor to turn to: Durham Smythe. Andrews will also be a great mind for Cuevas to turn to, but Smythe has been a reliable blocker for years, and he’s quickly made an impact on him.
“When it comes to blocking, [Smythe’s] a statue,” Cuevas said following practice. “He’s a very consistent guy to learn behind.”
Of course, the losses of Likely and Kolar are going to hurt, and there may be a world where they end up outperforming the group of Andrews, Hibner, Cuevas, and Smythe in 2026. However, looking toward the futures of Hibner and Cuevas, Andrews and Smythe may bring way more for their development. If the rookies are the future of the tight end room, the duo of veterans will be great to have in the locker room.
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