The Baltimore Ravens have endured a brutal stretch of ups and downs in 2025. After starting 1-5 and their season looking all but over, they rattled off five straight wins to put themselves back in playoff contention. However, an embarrassing loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Thanksgiving delivered a harsh reality check, and there are clearly countless issues that need fixing.
Fixing those problems will not become easier, though. Amid an underwhelming campaign, they will be forced to confront a laundry list of pending free agents in the 2026 offseason.
Near the top of the list of players that need a new contract is tight end Mark Andrews.
Mark Andrews may be playing his last snaps with the Ravens
Despite a lackluster couple of years in terms of overall production, Andrews has still been a crucial part of the Ravens’ offense. Through 12 games in 2025, he has totaled 37 receptions for 332 yards and five touchdowns.
He has broken records along the way and is now the franchise leader in receptions, receiving yards, and total touchdowns. In 116 regular-season contests, he has totaled 473 receptions, 5,862 yards, and 57 touchdowns.
Unfortunately, Andrews’ days in Baltimore are numbered. He is one of the many players set to hit free agency following the season. In fact, he is one of three Ravens’ tight ends without a contract in 2026.
Andrews, Isaiah Likely, and Charlie Kolar have all had a positive impact on Baltimore’s offense in the past few years, and with Andrews aging, he might be the odd man out.
At 30 years old, it feels like Andrews’ eight-year career has gone by in the blink of an eye. He has earned three Pro Bowl nods and an All-Pro first-team honor, acting as quarterback Lamar Jackson’s go-to option through the air. The emergence of the younger weapons, Likely and Kolar, though, could force Andrews out of Charm City.
There are ways to work around the cap situation, but it would be complete malpractice to pay all three tight ends. Andrews has been the most successful of the trio this season, but a combination of age and money will likely shift focus towards making Likely and Kolar the duo of the future.
Sure, Likely has had some disappointing moments across his career, and Kolar has yet to secure a significant role as a pass catcher cross four NFL seasons, but both are undoubtedly on the rise. At some point, Baltimore will have to shift to the youth movement, and 2026 could be that time.