Mark Andrews
Andrews enters this season as Baltimore's clear top receiving tight end by default, but he's coming off the least efficient year of his career and analysts are split on whether that was a blip or the start of a decline.
Role
He is the unquestioned TE1 on the Ravens' 53-man roster, with Durham Smythe purely a blocking/complementary piece and rookies Matthew Hibner and Josh Cuevas not yet real target threats; expect Andrews to keep the lion's share of TE routes and snaps and to rank second on the team in targets behind the top receiver if the passing offense is healthy.
Optimists point out Andrews still has a clear, uncontested path to heavy targets at his position with no real competition on the depth chart, and believe a healthier Lamar Jackson plus scheme tweaks under the offensive staff can restore the big-play, red-zone role that made him a touchdown machine in the second half of last season.
Skeptics note that in his most recent full season he posted career-worst yards per target and yards per reception, his lowest targets-per-game since his rookie year, and that at 31 those efficiency and explosiveness numbers may reflect real decline rather than a one-year outlier, especially if the Ravens lean more on their running backs or other pass-catchers.
Where analysts split
The specific disagreement is whether last season's steep efficiency drop (yards per target, yards per reception, explosive plays) was situational — tied to Lamar Jackson's health and offensive struggles — or an age-driven decline that will persist even if the offense rebounds.
Research confidence: reported. Outlooks are grounded in web search over current reporting and refreshed through the season.
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