The Baltimore Ravens are entering an offseason that could significantly shape the future of the franchise.
Coming off an ultra painful playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills in the divisional round, where the Ravens had multiple opportunities to mount a comeback but ultimately fell short, the team faces crucial decisions ahead.
One of the players under scrutiny following the loss is the usually-reliable tight end Mark Andrews.
In the heartbreaking defeat, Andrews lost a fumble and missed a critical two-point conversion catch late in the game, a play that would have tied the score.
With the Ravens looking to bolster their roster in the coming months, speculation has risen that Andrews could be a candidate for a cut to help manage the team’s salary cap.
ESPN NFL insider Dan Graziano weighed in on the situation, acknowledging the complexity of the decision.
“These things can be tricky, since you can take a cold, impartial look at Andrews’ age (29) and his contract and say, ‘Yes, of course.’ But that doesn’t always account for the relationship between the player and the team,” Graziano reported.
Despite the challenges, Graziano noted that there were times during the 2024 season where second-year tight end Isaiah Likely seemed more valuable than Andrews in the passing game.
“There were stretches this past season when Isaiah Likely appeared to have surpassed him in the passing game hierarchy in Baltimore,” he added.
However, Graziano also suggested that Andrews and the Ravens could find a way to move forward together, saying, “There’s a good chance he and the team come up with a way to stay together.”
Andrews has been a cornerstone of the Ravens’ offense throughout his career, consistently serving as Lamar Jackson’s most reliable receiving target.
His ability to find gaps in the defense and contribute as a blocker has made him a crucial part of the offense.
Despite his shocking mistakes in the playoff loss, Andrews’ overall impact on the field cannot be overlooked.
But with Likely’s emergence and the team’s salary cap considerations, the Ravens may evaluate whether they can redirect Andrews’ money to strengthen other areas of the roster, particularly if they feel confident in their tight end position moving forward.
As the Ravens focus on improving their roster this offseason, all eyes will be on free agency and the upcoming draft in April.
What are your thoughts on Andrews possibly getting released by Baltimore? … Wouldn’t it be strange to see him wearing another uniform???
