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The Baltimore Ravens have changed enough around Mark Andrews to make the tight end room feel different entering 2026, but they have not changed the most important part of the equation. Andrews remains central to everything Baltimore wants to become on offense.
That was made clear when the Ravens signed Andrews to a three-year, $39.2 million extension, reinforcing that the organization still views him as one of Lamar Jackson’s most important weapons. The deal was not simply a reward for past production. It was a statement about how Baltimore sees the next phase of its offense unfolding under coordinator Declan Doyle.
Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar are no longer part of the room, leaving Andrews as the unquestioned centerpiece at the position. Durham Smythe brings veteran blocking value, while Matt Hibner and Josh Cuevas give the Ravens developmental options with size and upside. Those players matter, but none change the basic reality. Baltimore’s tight end identity still begins with Andrews.
Andrews’ value starts with trust. Jackson has spent years looking for him in critical moments, and that type of chemistry is not easily replaced. Third downs, red-zone snaps, and scramble-drill situations often come down to timing and feel, and Andrews has long understood how to uncover when a play breaks down or when Jackson needs a dependable target in traffic.
That trust should remain especially important in the red zone, where Andrews has consistently been one of Baltimore’s most natural touchdown threats. The Ravens have Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, and a young receiver group trying to settle into defined roles, but Andrews gives the offense a proven answer near the goal line. His size, route savvy, and ability to win against linebackers or safeties allow Baltimore to create matchups without needing to force throws outside the numbers.
The extension also allows the Ravens to build with clarity. Andrews is not a bridge player. He is still a foundational piece.
Jackson’s role in this discussion is obvious because Andrews’ overall importance is tied directly to the quarterback’s comfort level in Declan Doyle's innovative offensive system. Baltimore can add receivers, reshape the offensive line, and tweak the tight end depth chart, but Jackson’s best offenses have always benefited from having a trusted middle-of-the-field option who understands his rhythm.
Andrews gives Jackson that. He can settle into soft spots against zone coverage, adjust routes when protection shifts, and provide an answer when defenses devote extra attention to Flowers or the running game. In a new-look offense, that reliability matters. Jackson does not need every target to be new or experimental. He needs one he can trust when the play has to work.
Smythe’s arrival could help Andrews by allowing Baltimore to distribute some of the more physical tight-end responsibilities. Smythe is not being asked to replace Andrews as a featured receiver. His value comes from blocking, alignment versatility, and the ability to help the Ravens stay multiple in heavier personnel packages.
That could matter over a 17-game season. If Smythe handles more dirty work in certain formations, Andrews can be preserved for the passing-game situations where his impact is most valuable. Baltimore can still use Andrews as a blocker when needed, but it does not have to overextend him in that role every week.
Hibner gives the Ravens a developmental tight end with enough size to earn a long look during camp. His immediate path likely begins with blocking, special teams, and proving he can handle the mental demands of the position, but his presence also reflects Baltimore’s attempt to rebuild depth behind Andrews.
Rookie tight ends often need time, and Hibner should not be expected to become a major offensive piece immediately. Still, if he shows growth, he can help the Ravens create a more balanced room behind their veteran leader.
Cuevas offers another young option with a chance to carve out a role if he proves he can contribute in multiple areas. Like Hibner, his fastest route to game-day value may come through special teams and assignment reliability before offensive targets arrive.
His development matters because Baltimore needs more than one tight end who can function within Doyle’s system. Cuevas does not have to threaten Andrews’ role to be useful. He needs to give the Ravens another player worth developing in a room that has been reset.
The Ravens’ tight end room looks different, but Andrews’ importance has not diminished. If anything, the departures of Likely and Kolar make his presence even more central. Smythe, Hibner, and Cuevas can help define the depth chart, but Andrews remains the player who gives Baltimore its most dependable tight end weapon and Jackson his most trusted target.
That is why his role could shift without shrinking. The Ravens can be smarter about how they use him, especially with Smythe available to help in blocking packages and younger tight ends competing for depth roles. Andrews can remain a red-zone force, a third-down answer, and a matchup problem while Baltimore continues evolving around him.
The Ravens are trying to become more complete offensively. Andrews is not a leftover from the previous version. He is one of the reasons the next version can work.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Why Mark Andrews remains central to Ravens’ offensive evolution
Continue reading...
That was made clear when the Ravens signed Andrews to a three-year, $39.2 million extension, reinforcing that the organization still views him as one of Lamar Jackson’s most important weapons. The deal was not simply a reward for past production. It was a statement about how Baltimore sees the next phase of its offense unfolding under coordinator Declan Doyle.
Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar are no longer part of the room, leaving Andrews as the unquestioned centerpiece at the position. Durham Smythe brings veteran blocking value, while Matt Hibner and Josh Cuevas give the Ravens developmental options with size and upside. Those players matter, but none change the basic reality. Baltimore’s tight end identity still begins with Andrews.
Mark Andrews
Andrews’ value starts with trust. Jackson has spent years looking for him in critical moments, and that type of chemistry is not easily replaced. Third downs, red-zone snaps, and scramble-drill situations often come down to timing and feel, and Andrews has long understood how to uncover when a play breaks down or when Jackson needs a dependable target in traffic.
That trust should remain especially important in the red zone, where Andrews has consistently been one of Baltimore’s most natural touchdown threats. The Ravens have Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, and a young receiver group trying to settle into defined roles, but Andrews gives the offense a proven answer near the goal line. His size, route savvy, and ability to win against linebackers or safeties allow Baltimore to create matchups without needing to force throws outside the numbers.
The extension also allows the Ravens to build with clarity. Andrews is not a bridge player. He is still a foundational piece.
Lamar Jackson
Jackson’s role in this discussion is obvious because Andrews’ overall importance is tied directly to the quarterback’s comfort level in Declan Doyle's innovative offensive system. Baltimore can add receivers, reshape the offensive line, and tweak the tight end depth chart, but Jackson’s best offenses have always benefited from having a trusted middle-of-the-field option who understands his rhythm.
Andrews gives Jackson that. He can settle into soft spots against zone coverage, adjust routes when protection shifts, and provide an answer when defenses devote extra attention to Flowers or the running game. In a new-look offense, that reliability matters. Jackson does not need every target to be new or experimental. He needs one he can trust when the play has to work.
Durham Smythe
Smythe’s arrival could help Andrews by allowing Baltimore to distribute some of the more physical tight-end responsibilities. Smythe is not being asked to replace Andrews as a featured receiver. His value comes from blocking, alignment versatility, and the ability to help the Ravens stay multiple in heavier personnel packages.
That could matter over a 17-game season. If Smythe handles more dirty work in certain formations, Andrews can be preserved for the passing-game situations where his impact is most valuable. Baltimore can still use Andrews as a blocker when needed, but it does not have to overextend him in that role every week.
Matt Hibner
Hibner gives the Ravens a developmental tight end with enough size to earn a long look during camp. His immediate path likely begins with blocking, special teams, and proving he can handle the mental demands of the position, but his presence also reflects Baltimore’s attempt to rebuild depth behind Andrews.
Rookie tight ends often need time, and Hibner should not be expected to become a major offensive piece immediately. Still, if he shows growth, he can help the Ravens create a more balanced room behind their veteran leader.
Josh Cuevas
Cuevas offers another young option with a chance to carve out a role if he proves he can contribute in multiple areas. Like Hibner, his fastest route to game-day value may come through special teams and assignment reliability before offensive targets arrive.
His development matters because Baltimore needs more than one tight end who can function within Doyle’s system. Cuevas does not have to threaten Andrews’ role to be useful. He needs to give the Ravens another player worth developing in a room that has been reset.
The bottom line
The Ravens’ tight end room looks different, but Andrews’ importance has not diminished. If anything, the departures of Likely and Kolar make his presence even more central. Smythe, Hibner, and Cuevas can help define the depth chart, but Andrews remains the player who gives Baltimore its most dependable tight end weapon and Jackson his most trusted target.
That is why his role could shift without shrinking. The Ravens can be smarter about how they use him, especially with Smythe available to help in blocking packages and younger tight ends competing for depth roles. Andrews can remain a red-zone force, a third-down answer, and a matchup problem while Baltimore continues evolving around him.
The Ravens are trying to become more complete offensively. Andrews is not a leftover from the previous version. He is one of the reasons the next version can work.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Why Mark Andrews remains central to Ravens’ offensive evolution
Continue reading...
