Maybe if Mark Andrews says he's a Raven enough times, he'll speak it into existence.
As the Baltimore Ravens barrel toward the 2025 NFL Draft, Andrews continues to be the name looming over just about everything—not because of what he’s done lately, but because of what the Ravens' front office hasn’t done yet. No new deal. No hard guarantees. No firm declaration that the most accomplished tight end in franchise history will be on the roster come Week 1.
Andrews, for his part, is trying to stay focused. In a recent interview during a promotional tour for Dexcom U, he downplayed the speculation:
"At the end of the day, I think [DeCosta] said it perfectly: He's in the business of keeping great players and it's a business at the end of the day," Andrews told ESPN. "You can't be surprised by anything, but I'm a Raven."
He reiterated his trust in General Manager Eric DeCosta, praised the Ravens’ organization, and said he’s just working to have the best season of his life. But it’s that business side—the part Baltimore’s been suspiciously quiet about—that’s doing all the talking right now.
Mark Andrews is ready for redemption… but will he get it in Baltimore?
The backdrop to all of this is complicated. Andrews is 29, carries a $16.9 million cap hit, and is coming off a season where he posted a career-high 11 touchdowns but also his lowest yardage per game since his rookie year.
He’s entering the final year of his contract, and if traded, Baltimore could save $11 million in cap space—a number that looks pretty appealing when Kyle Hamilton and Tyler Linderbaum both need extensions soon.
But the real elephant in the room? Isaiah Likely. The former fourth-rounder out of Coastal Carolina looked like a legitimate No. 1 tight end while Andrews was sidelined last year, and he’s on the final year of a rookie deal with a much cheaper extension.
DeCosta said at his pre-draft presser, “Mark Andrews is a warrior,” but didn’t rule anything out. “There’s always a lot of unpredictability with the draft,” he said. It didn't feel like much of a commitment. It felt like a hedge.
Andrews still believes a return is likely. He’s talking redemption after that brutal playoff drop against the Buffalo Bills. He wants to come back and chase a ring. And no one doubts the player or the passion. But this is a front office that’s made bold decisions before. The silence might be saying more than the quotes.
"I know the Ravens and my relationship is incredibly strong and I trust in [DeCosta] and everybody there over at the Ravens," Andrews said. "And there's nothing on my end really to share. For me, it's just been working hard this offseason and trying to get in the best shape of my life, trying to have the best season of my life coming up and winning a Super Bowl."
If the right Day 2 offer comes in—maybe from the Chargers, Jets, or Panthers—the Ravens might decide to make a tough call now... before it becomes even tougher later.