The NFL Draft can be unpredictable, not just when it comes to who will be drafted when, but also regarding players already in the league. Could the 2025 NFL Draft see a major trade involving one of quarterback Lamar Jackson’s favorite targets?
While Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said last month that he fully expects tight end Mark Andrews to be a member of the team in 2025 — “he’s just too good a player” — general manager Eric DeCosta was less committal about the veteran.
When asked if there is a possibility of trading Andrews during the draft, DeCosta wouldn’t say either way.
“Oh man. I never know what’s gonna happen … I would never want to say this or that,” he said. “But I can tell you this: Mark Andrews is a warrior. And he’s played his butt off for us and his competitiveness, his talent, his attitude, his leadership is so valued here. And he’s a great player … We’re in the business of keeping as many great players as we can. There’s always a lot of unpredictability with the draft. You just never know.”
The three-time Pro Bowler is entering the final year of his contract and is set to make $7 million as a base salary with $16.9 million against the cap. Trading or releasing the 29-year-old could save the Ravens $11 million against the cap.
DeCosta did not address a potential contract extension for running back Derrick Henry, either. Regarding both Henry and Andrews, he said he prefers to keep those conversations behind closed doors.
“So we have a lot of different balls in the air right now,” DeCosta said. “That’s probably what I would say on that. I’m not going to talk about what we’re doing, what we’re not doing behind the scenes business-wise with these guys. I don’t think it’s good for me to do that.”
If they do decide to move on from Andrews, the team still has Isaiah Likely, who had career highs in receptions (42), receiving yards (477) and touchdown catches (six) last season. He is entering the final year of his rookie deal as a fourth-round draft pick in 2022.
Andrews, meanwhile, totaled 55 catches for 673 yards and a career-high 11 touchdowns a year ago. Unfortunately for him, his season is mostly remembered by the dropped two-point conversion in the team’s 27-25 AFC divisional round loss to the Buffalo Bills. A completed catch would’ve tied the game with less than two minutes remaining.
