Tight end is a position the Rams will need to address at some point in the near future. Tyler Higbee is 32 and has had a major injury in his most recent season and rest of the unit has not performed well in his absence.
Drafting a tight end is a possibility throughout the first three rounds, but young players at that position are hard to develop quickly. The Rams are thinking Super Bowl in 2025, though, meaning they need a Day 1 impact player they can count on.
This is where the veteran trade market comes into play. And while Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews isn’t officially on the block, general manager Eric DeCosta didn’t deny that the veteran could be moved this offseason.
So, if Andrews was on the table for a trade, would it make sense for the Rams to swoop in? Let’s break down the pros and cons of either decision:
Pro: Instant starter
Andrews has been one of the best tight ends in the league since 2019. He’s produced four seasons with at least 700 receiving yards and seven touchdowns and caught 107 receptions for 1,361 yards in 2021. Andrews is big and powerful at 6-foot-5 and 250 pounds with 44 red zone touchdowns. He would immediately add another element to the Rams offense.
Con: Age and injury history
Andrews is only slightly younger than Higbee — he’ll be 30 in September — and missed seven total games with a few injuries from 2022 to 2023. While he played the full 17-game season in 2024, Andrews only saw action in 61% of the Raven’s offensive snaps, which was his lowest mark since 2019. While he’s still a great player, Andrews is clearly slowing down.
Pro: Experience
The biggest issue with drafting a tight end to be your next starter is … they’ve never played in the NFL. And for a team with Super Bowl aspirations, it’s hard to count on a rookie jumping in on Day 1 and being the go-to tight end, even with the success the Rams have had with their young players. Andrews, meanwhile, has 104 games and 55 starts under his belt. He’s also played in eight career playoff games for the Rams. That experience doesn’t grow on trees.
Con: Drops
Andrews’ biggest flaw is his recent bout of drops. He’s had 33 drops in his career and averages about five per regular season. He only had four during the 2024 regular season but dropped the game-tying two-point conversion in the AFC Divisional Round to lose the game for the Ravens. That problem would need to be cleaned up before Andrews could regain the trust of a new team.
Pro: Andrews’ contract
In a weird way, Andrews’ contract is manageable for any team that acquires him. Andrews would only count $7 million towards the 2025 salary cap in a trade, per Spotrac, which is a bargain for a top-10 tight end. He is on the final year of his contract, too, meaning that the Rams wouldn’t be on the hook for any more salary if the move doesn’t work out. They could also re-sign Andrews if he proves to be a Pro Bowler again.
Con: Cost to acquire
Andrews may be on the older side for a tight end, but he’s still productive and experienced. That means he could cost a lot to acquire. Darren Waller was traded for a third-round pick when he was 31, so it stands to reason Andrews would cost at least that. More than likely, the Rams would have to give up at least one Day 2 pick for Andrews. That might be too much for what could amount to a one-year rental.
Verdict: Go for it
This would be a high-risk, high-reward move if general manager Les Snead can work out a manageable trade. It would give the Rams a third top-flight pass-catcher behind Davante Adams and Puka Nacua and open up another level of the offense. The Rams have lacked a true pass-catching tight end for a long time and Andrews would be the perfect fit in this offense. Despite his age, injury concern and drops, a Day 3 pick is worth it for Andrews.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Mark Andrews trade: Should Rams make a move for Ravens TE?
Tight end is a position the Rams will need to address at some point in the near future. Tyler Higbee is 32 and has had a major injury in his most recent season and rest of the unit has not performed well in his absence.
Drafting a tight end is a possibility throughout the first three rounds, but young players at that position are hard to develop quickly. The Rams are thinking Super Bowl in 2025, though, meaning they need a Day 1 impact player they can count on.
This is where the veteran trade market comes into play. And while Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews isn’t officially on the block, general manager Eric DeCosta didn’t deny that the veteran could be moved this offseason.
So, if Andrews was on the table for a trade, would it make sense for the Rams to swoop in? Let’s break down the pros and cons of either decision:
Pro: Instant starter
Andrews has been one of the best tight ends in the league since 2019. He’s produced four seasons with at least 700 receiving yards and seven touchdowns and caught 107 receptions for 1,361 yards in 2021. Andrews is big and powerful at 6-foot-5 and 250 pounds with 44 red zone touchdowns. He would immediately add another element to the Rams offense.
Con: Age and injury history
Andrews is only slightly younger than Higbee — he’ll be 30 in September — and missed seven total games with a few injuries from 2022 to 2023. While he played the full 17-game season in 2024, Andrews only saw action in 61% of the Raven’s offensive snaps, which was his lowest mark since 2019. While he’s still a great player, Andrews is clearly slowing down.
Pro: Experience
The biggest issue with drafting a tight end to be your next starter is … they’ve never played in the NFL. And for a team with Super Bowl aspirations, it’s hard to count on a rookie jumping in on Day 1 and being the go-to tight end, even with the success the Rams have had with their young players. Andrews, meanwhile, has 104 games and 55 starts under his belt. He’s also played in eight career playoff games for the Rams. That experience doesn’t grow on trees.
Con: Drops
Andrews’ biggest flaw is his recent bout of drops. He’s had 33 drops in his career and averages about five per regular season. He only had four during the 2024 regular season but dropped the game-tying two-point conversion in the AFC Divisional Round to lose the game for the Ravens. That problem would need to be cleaned up before Andrews could regain the trust of a new team.
Pro: Andrews’ contract
In a weird way, Andrews’ contract is manageable for any team that acquires him. Andrews would only count $7 million towards the 2025 salary cap in a trade, per Spotrac, which is a bargain for a top-10 tight end. He is on the final year of his contract, too, meaning that the Rams wouldn’t be on the hook for any more salary if the move doesn’t work out. They could also re-sign Andrews if he proves to be a Pro Bowler again.
Con: Cost to acquire
Andrews may be on the older side for a tight end, but he’s still productive and experienced. That means he could cost a lot to acquire. Darren Waller was traded for a third-round pick when he was 31, so it stands to reason Andrews would cost at least that. More than likely, the Rams would have to give up at least one Day 2 pick for Andrews. That might be too much for what could amount to a one-year rental.
Verdict: Go for it
This would be a high-risk, high-reward move if general manager Les Snead can work out a manageable trade. It would give the Rams a third top-flight pass-catcher behind Davante Adams and Puka Nacua and open up another level of the offense. The Rams have lacked a true pass-catching tight end for a long time and Andrews would be the perfect fit in this offense. Despite his age, injury concern and drops, a Day 3 pick is worth it for Andrews.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Mark Andrews trade: Should Rams make a move for Ravens TE?
