Mark Andrews has established himself as one of the best tight ends in the league. As a third-round selection back in the 2018 draft, the Baltimore Ravens star had high expectations coming out of the University of Oklahoma, and has certainly delivered on them so far throughout the course of his brief NFL career.
Andrews has caught 156 passes for 2,105 yards and 20 touchdowns over his first three seasons, also making a Pro Bowl appearance. However, when ranking the best 32 tight ends in the NFL entering the 2021 season, Ben Linsey of Pro Football Focus ranked Andrews at the No. 6 spot, citing his red zone success.
“Andrews’ skill set marries well with what the Ravens want to do in the passing game. He’s a big target who can work down the seams, and he has come up big in the red zone. His 12 red-zone touchdowns over the past two seasons are tied with Kelce for the most at the position.”
Linsey also talked about how Andrews has been a primary target for Lamar Jackson over recent years.
“Andrews is also one of the few tight ends in the league who has served as his team’s primary target in recent years. Andrews (185) and Marquise Brown (160) are the only players on the team with 100-plus targets since 2019. It will be interesting to see if that changes following the Ravens’ additions at wide receiver this offseason.”
Being rated as the sixth-best tight end seems a bit low for a player that is one of the best receiving threats from his position in the entire league and has also established himself as a much better blocker than he was coming out of college. He was ranked below fellow 2018 draft pick Dallas Goedart (No. 5), who Andrews has beat in catches, receiving yards and touchdowns, and also Kyle Pitts (No. 4), who has yet to take a snap at the NFL level.
Andrews is a key part of what the Ravens’ do on offense. The fourth-year tight end is right up there with the best tight ends in the NFL, and even though players like Goedart and Pitts are (or will be) phenominal contributors, Andrews is a player who deserves to have his accomplishments recognized where they rightfully belong.
Baltimore tight end Nick Boyle did not appear on the list of 32 tight ends by PFF.
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