Football is a game full of ups and downs. Players can be at their best on one drive, just to make critical mistakes on the next. When those negative moments occur, it can feel like everything that player contributed up to that point is washed away. Emotions are at an all-time high, and sometimes fans will not let them hear the end of it.
Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews unfortunately went through this at the end of last season. His 2024 campaign started out underwhelming, but he caught fire going into the playoffs. However, in the Divisional Round against the Buffalo Bills, he hit rock bottom when he fumbled away a crucial drive and dropped a game-tying two-point conversion later on.
It was the most talked-about moment of the offseason, as most Ravens fans will tell you, that was supposed to be the year they captured the Lombardi Trophy. Many thought he would get traded, but as Baltimore gears up for training camp, Andrews is still a Raven and is ready to put those memories behind him.
The former Oklahoma Sooner has always been a fan favorite. That unfortunate mishap in the playoffs has made him easier to root for, seeing what he has gone through as a result.
Dan Parr of NFL.com listed one player to root for from each team in 2025, and Andrews was the easy choice for Baltimore.
“I’m with Lamar Jackson on this one. Almost half a year has passed since Andrews’ Divisional Round meltdown, and his two-time MVP teammate is still going to bat for him,” Parr wrote. “...it would be a shame if that cold night in Buffalo ended up being the defining chapter of his Ravens career. I’d like to see the three-time Pro Bowler bounce back in a contract year and prove that his worst day at the office did indeed only make him stronger.”
Andrews is still a Ravens fan favorite
There is a reason the Ravens did not trade Andrews this offseason. He has been one of the faces of the franchise since he stepped foot on the field at M&T Bank Stadium. One game does not flush that down the drain. He is Baltimore’s franchise leader in career touchdowns with 51 and has three Pro Bowls and one All-Pro selection to his name.
While it looks like Andrews has slightly regressed since his severe ankle injury in 2023, he has remained a lethal red zone threat. He paced the team in receiving touchdowns in 2024 with 11, and went on a streak of scoring six times in the last six regular-season outings. 2025 could be his last year with the Ravens, though.
Baltimore has made it clear that Isaiah Likely is the future at the tight end position. While the two-headed monster between him and Andrews is elite, Baltimore will need to save some money in the 2026 offseason, and letting Andrews walk is one way of doing that.
It will be sad to see Andrews leave Baltimore, but going into his eighth season with the team, it has been an electric career, and many are hoping to see the 29-year-old go out on top with a Super Bowl.