It’s funny how things work out, isn't it? Before the 2018 NFL draft, John Harbaugh, the Ravens' head coach, had Mark Andrews pegged as his top tight end prospect. But not everyone in the organization was quite so convinced. The prevailing thought seemed to be that Andrews’ success at Oklahoma was largely due to the offense, that he was just… wide open. Easy pickings, right?
Harbaugh, though, saw something deeper. "He's wide open for a reason, guys," he’d say. "He's getting open." And as it turns out, Harbaugh was absolutely right.
Fast forward a few years, and Andrews has gone from being the second tight end Baltimore picked in that draft (after Hayden Hurst, who went in the first round) to etching his name in the Ravens' record books. He’s now the franchise’s all-time leading pass catcher. This past Sunday, in a 23-16 win against the Cleveland Browns, he surpassed Derrick Mason’s 15-year-old mark for receiving yards, racking up 5,806 yards. He already holds the franchise record for touchdown catches with 56. He's also just four receptions away from owning the Ravens' career catch record, a feat that would put him in truly elite company – only Travis Kelce of the Chiefs currently holds a receiving triple crown (catches, yards, and touchdowns) for a franchise.
"It's been a lot of hard work," Andrews said, reflecting on his journey. "And I just think humility and gratitude is the main thing."
This milestone arrives during a particularly challenging period for Andrews. Just last January, a crucial fourth-quarter fumble and a dropped 2-point conversion attempt played a significant role in the Ravens' playoff loss to the Bills. And this current season, through 10 games, he hasn't been the same primary target, averaging a career-low 27.6 receiving yards per game.
But football has a way of offering moments of redemption, doesn't it? On Sunday, with the game tied at 16 and less than three minutes left, the Ravens faced a crucial fourth-and-1. They called a trick play, "Hurricane." Andrews took the snap on a fake tush push, spun to the right, and ran untouched for a 35-yard touchdown. It wasn't a direct playoff redemption, but it certainly felt like a defining play for a team pushing for a postseason run after a tough 1-5 start.
"He is always there when we need him; he showed that [Sunday night]," Lamar Jackson, the Ravens' quarterback, said. "He is 'Mr. Reliable.'"
What’s even more remarkable is that on that 35-yard touchdown, Andrews hit a top speed of 20.09 miles per hour. For a 6-foot-5, 250-pound tight end who just turned 30, that’s a career best. No other tight end this season has reached that speed on a touchdown score. "I take a lot of care of my body," Andrews explained. "That's something throughout the years that I've grown to adapt to. I always say I feel better than I ever have, but truly, the way I take care of my body, the things I eat -- I've really never felt better. I'm running faster than I ever have."
His teammates know it, too. Andrews plays and practices at one speed: full throttle. His touchdown celebrations, often involving enthusiastic head butts, are legendary. Harbaugh’s nickname for him, "Man-drews," stems from his all-consuming dedication to the game. Safety Kyle Hamilton has even admitted he tries to emulate Andrews' approach to practices and meetings.
"He is a warrior," offensive coordinator Todd Monken stated. "The guy loves football. Just watch him warm up; he competes in warmups. He grunts in warmups. He's in a rare category of guys I've been around that are tough, practices his rear end off, and it shows up in the game."
There's also the looming question of his future. Andrews is in the final year of his contract, and free agency looms. But for now, he’s focused on the present. "For me, it's not looking too far ahead, it's living in the moment [and] being present," he said at the start of training camp. "I'm thankful to be here this year, to be able to compete for this organization, compete for this city -- it means so much to me. I just want people to know that. It really means everything to me."
