Isaiah Likely, Mark Andrews
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Baltimore Ravens teammates Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely were named as two of the top-10 tight ends in the NFL.
It could be the twilight for the career of the greatest tight end in Baltimore Ravens history. Tight end Mark Andrewsis entering the final year of his contract before he becomes an unrestricted free agent next season, and his future is uncertain.
Andrews has been in Baltimore since being drafted in the third round of the 2018 draft out of the University of Oklahoma. In that time, Andrews has been a pillar of the Ravens franchise and smashed the record books.
Andrews owns franchise records for most career touchdowns, most receiving yards in a season, and most touchdowns by a tight end in a single season.
Andrews has had a stellar career in Baltimore so far, and in Week 1, he gets to confront one of his few career blemishes.
Facing Demons Week 1
In Week 1 of the regular season, the Ravens are traveling to face the Buffalo Bills, the site of a nightmare game for Mark Andrews.
In the Divisional Round of the playoffs last season against the Bills, Andrews lost a fumble and dropped a potential game-tying two-point conversion in the end zone. It was the lowest point ofAndrews’ Ravens career, but now in a new season, Andrews is ready to move past it.
The spotlight will be on Andrews with the game being on Sunday Night Football, buthe’s ready for whatever comes with this game. Clifton Brown and Ryan Mink ofRavens.com wrote about how Andrews is preparing for this game back in July.
“It’s going to be a great story,”Andrews said. “I’m excited about that game.”
Andrews has also had to deal with trade speculation all summer, spurred on by the continued ascension of tight end Isaiah Likely.
Sharing Targets With Likely
The Ravens have a lot of mouths to feed naturally on their offense, but this yearthey’re in a unique position, with two tight ends coming up on contract years who will need to share targets.
Like Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely is also entering the final year of his contract, and in essence, the two will not only be competing for targets but also for a new contract from the Ravens.
The situation could become awkward, but Andrews is maintaining his perspective on the matter. Back in July, he talked with Ravens Vault co-hostSarah Ellison about the situation.
“At the end of the day,it’s got to be an unselfish group,” Andrews said. “That’s the type of guys they bring in here –it’s an unselfish group.That’s not to say guysaren’t going to want the rock – have their yards, carries, and catches. Coach Monk talks about that a lot.”
Andrews then went on to talk about how trust and unselfishness will be how the team deals with any possible discomfort.
“For us,it’s being unselfish, trusting the process and trusting No. 8. He makes incredible reads and incredible decisions and leads us to victories,” Andrews said. “And when we do that, good things will happen.It’s about being there for him.”
Andrews could be in his last season as a Raven with the 25-year-old Likely getting better every season, but Andrewsshouldn’t be counted out, and can show the team whyhe’s still the best tight end in franchise history.