Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews has been one of the best tight ends in the league during his career, and he’s still respected as such. In ESPN’s annual position rankings, done by league execs, scouts, and coaches, Andrews was the ninth-ranked tight end for 2026.
While that’s three spots down from his ranking of No. 6 last year, people throughout the league still think Andrews is one of the best at his position. However, one quote from one of the voters should have the attention of Ravens fans.
An anonymous veteran assistant coach praised Andrews for still having his insticts and savviness, but argued that the tight end has declined since his 2023 leg injury. The assistant coach went on to say Isaiah Likely was more of a threat in Baltimore’s offense, and all things considered, fans couldn’t have felt good after that quote.
Baltimore Ravens’ Mark Andrews is still respected as a top tight end despite his decline
In December, Baltimore signed Andrews to a three-year, $39.2 million extension. The franchise later let Isaiah Likely walk in free agency, where he followed John Harbaugh to the New York Giants. The Ravens made that decision despite Andrews being 31 when the season starts, and Likely only being 26.
If Andrews is on the decline, while Likely is ascending, it’s only right that fans question why the team would commit to the older player. This quote from the anonymous assistant coach shows that people in the NFL are questioning the same thing.
Obviously, the Ravens still think highly of Andrews, and believes he has a lot left in the tank. That’s why his extension was for three years; Baltimore believes he’s the answer in the preset and the future. Ultimately, time will tell if that’s the case.
Andrews is coming off the least productive season of his career, catching just 48 passes for a career low 422 yards and five touchdowns. He also played in all 17 games, so the dip in production wasn’t a result of missing a significant amount of time. While there were plenty of other factors in Baltimore that could have contributed, the veteran tight end still seemed to be trending in the wrong direction.
He will have to prove in 2026 that last season was a blip, and not a trend.
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