Mark Andrews lately turned the Baltimore Ravens’ all-time chief in touchdowns, the primary to 50 in crew historical past. He entered the 2024 season one behind Todd Heap’s 40, and completed with 11. However will he play one other snap for the Ravens in his profession? One Baltimore beat author floated the concept of the crew transferring on from him this offseason to avoid wasting cap area.
“To be clear, the Ravens don’t must do something with Andrews”, wrote Jeff Zrebiec for The Athletic. “Nonetheless, he additionally carries the fourth-highest cap hit on the crew at $16.9 million, and he’s one of many few locations Baltimore may go to open up a piece of area. Even with $11 million of financial savings attainable, simply releasing him and getting nothing in return appears doubtful”.
“Andrews is among the high tight ends in soccer and remains to be 29 years previous”, he continued. “But when one other crew is keen to supply a Day 2 decide for him in a commerce that may give the Ravens further draft capital and vital salary-cap aid, they must pay attention”.
In his seventh season with the Ravens in 2024, Mark Andrews caught 55 passes for 673 yards and 11 touchdowns. That’s his lowest yardage whole in a full season as a starter, however a profession excessive in scores. Whereas these numbers didn’t earn him a Professional Bowl, he has three in his rearview mirror.
However what else is in his rearview mirror? As Zrebiec factors out, the Ravens have already got Isaiah Possible, they usually’ll must pay him—however over Andrews?
The Ravens owe Andrews precisely $11 million in 2025, together with a $4 million roster bonus due March 17. In the event that they have been to really do something with him, it could occur comparatively shortly, within the subsequent month. They don’t have a lot cap area, although, and have free brokers like Ronnie Stanley and Patrick Mekari.
It appears unlikely, fairly frankly, that the Ravens would transfer on from Mark Andrews, who’s Lamar Jackson’s favourite goal. They drafted the 2 collectively, and their connection has at all times been robust. Whereas Andrews had a foul stretch to finish the season—dropping a game-tying two-point conversion on the finish of their playoff run—he appears like a one-helmet Raven.
Final yr, the Ravens moved on from a few of their beginning offensive line and turned to different choices. They developed from inside and used the draft, and it labored out effectively. Ronnie Stanley is a participant who has been floated as a possible lower for years already, anyway. Andrews has by no means been in such a place.
Maybe it is determined by their emotions about Isaiah Possible. After three seasons within the league, he’s nonetheless 24. Final season, he caught 42 passes for 477 yards and 6 touchdowns. Contemplating he break up targets with Mark Andrews, that’s not shabby in any respect. Give him one other 50-plus targets and he may put up Professional Bowl numbers. And also you get a man who’s 5 years youthful on high of that, with much less of an damage historical past. However then why select if you happen to can have each?
