The Baltimore Ravens are lucky to have arguably the best tight end room in the NFL, with Mark Andrews still ranked among the premier players at his position. Andrews has been arguably the best tight end in franchise history, but there is a good chance his time in Baltimore could be coming to an end.
Andrews is due to make $7 million in the 2025 season. With the Ravens poised to eat up a ton of cap room due to some of their more expensive contracts, Baltimore needs to either give Andrews an extension or consider a possible backup plan.
Bleacher Report described Andrews as the most important contract situation the Ravens need to get figured out. While it seems like a no-brainer, the idea of paying Andrews may not be the forgone conclusion many fans seem to expect it will be.
The Ravens will eventually need to pay the piper after committing so much money to big names like Lamar Jackson, Roquan Smith, and Justin Madubuike. Andrews is not the only standout player on the Ravens roster that could look to earn a sparkly new contract in the next year.
Bleacher Report names TE Mark Andrews as the Ravens most important contract extension.
โ ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ก๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐๐๐ (@LIVERavenNation) June 24, 2024
He writes: โLocking in Mark Andrews would extend the Ravens offensive ceiling in the years to come.โ pic.twitter.com/qV1lBSokOa
Ravens facing difficult Mark Andrews contract decision in 2024
Andrews, who has 40 touchdowns in his career, should be able to break Todd Heap's Ravens franchise record for touchdown receptions (41) this season. If he has an All-Pro season with preposterous production, he has an outside shot at catching Derrick Mason in receiving yards and receptions.
There are some red flags as Andrews approaches the next phase of his career, however. He will turn 30 years old in 2025, has played all 17 games in a season just once, and may require a contract that far exceeds what Baltimore can afford. The fact the Ravens have a replacement in Isaiah Likely waiting in the wings further complicates this decision.
The Ravens need to prepare for players like Kyle Hamilton and Tyler Linderbaum getting contracts that reset their positional markets. Zay Flowers could be on track for another big contract if he keeps balling out, and Likely will also need a deal if he replaces Andrews. There's a good chance Andrews only has one year left in Baltimore.
The pro-Andrews camp will correctly point out that he is one of the best at his position in the league and that it makes no sense to subtract from Jackson's stash of weapons in a deep AFC. How Eric DeCosta handles this situation could have ripple effects for the remainder of the decade.