Knee-Jerk Reactions: Ravens Extend Mark Andrews for 3 Years, $39.3M

The Baltimore Ravens announced that they signed tight end Mark Andrews to a three-year contract extension this afternoon.

“We are excited and proud to announce a three-year contract extension with Mark Andrews,” Eric DeCosta stated. “Mark is an all-time Raven – a top competitor and Pro Bowl tight end who is also a big part of our Baltimore community. Congratulations to Mark and his family!”

The Ravens have agreed to a three-year contract extension with TE Mark Andrews, the franchise’s all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards and TDs. @MikeGarafolo, who was first on agreement, reports that it’s a three-year, $39.3 extension with $26 million guaranteed.

— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) December 3, 2025

RSR staff react to the signing here.

Kevin McNelis

We knew based on the timelines of their tight end contracts that the Ravens were under pressure to put pen to paper on at least one of these guys. With the announcement that the guy is Mark Andrews, I’m surprised, but maybe I shouldn’t be.

I can’t (and won’t) discount what Mark has done as a Raven. He’s a career Raven who now owns several franchise receiving records, and his chemistry with Lamar Jackson has made for some clutch moments even in a season that the team hasn’t looked great. The questions come in when you consider the combination of Andrews’ age, injury history and playoff performances, particularly when you have a pair of young tight ends in-house.

This move seems to indicate that Isaiah Likely may not be a part of the long term plan in Baltimore, and I find myself just hoping that the front office has a good reason why. Likely hasn’t played particularly well this season, and in fact probably cost himself money with some of his errors, but he still feels like the more prudent option for the future (in my opinion, at least). There’s an element of this that feels more like a business decision than a football decision, which generally heralds ill fortune for a franchise.

I’m not in the front office, so my opinion or what I would have done doesn’t really matter. Mark is a hell of a player and professional. He’s a credit to the organization, and the way he’s bounced back from his ankle injury is commendable, enough so that it inspired the long-term confidence of the front office. Now we just have to see how finances shake down with other pending free agents or extensions on a tight budget.

No, it’s going to use up some ‘25 Cap space, but they had $13M+ prior to this, so they’ve got plenty to finish the yr. The great thing about Dec. signings is you get an “extra” yr (2025) 2 prorate a signing bonus. So, whatever SB Andrews gets will prorate over 4 yrs instead of 3. https://t.co/GxkVjr8aVJ

— Brian McFarland (@RavensSalaryCap) December 3, 2025

Chad Racine

I’ve been in a group text the last half hour with my nephew talking him off the ledge because we were at the Buffalo game in January where Andrews dropped the two-point conversion right in front of us. I know some people won’t be happy with this signing, but I’ll try to sum up briefly my argument in support of it.

Would I prefer Isaiah Likely over Andrews moving forward? Sure I would, but contract negotiations play a huge factor into that. Would I want them to pay Likely $20 million per year or Andrews $13 million a year and save seven or so million for a guard upgrade? I’ll take Andrews and the guard upgrade. Josh Oliver earned almost $8 million per year and few years ago being primarily a blocking tight end much like Charlie Kolar.  So my guess would be Kolar lands around $10 million per year next year.

With all three tight ends in their final contract year they have to at least sign one of them at the bare minimum. Going into next year relying on rookie tight ends would be foolish.  You might as well take a reasonably priced deal for the franchise leader in receptions, yards and touchdowns. Or would you rather pull a Steelers move and sign DK Metcalf for $30 million per year at the overpriced wide receiver market? Metcalf and Andrews both have five touchdowns so far this year. We are not privileged to the contract negotiations so I’m going to trust in Eric DeCosta in signing Lamar’s number one target from day one.

Nick Polinsky

Mark Andrews is a true Raven. His name will be on the Ring of Honor someday, and he will have deserved it completely.

With that being said I’m pretty surprised, but I’m also very pleased. Mark Andrews is the glue that holds the entire pass-catching group together.

His presence in the middle of the field for Lamar Jackson has paid dividends time and time again, and while his usage has declined I think he’s a necessary piece to keep around.

I’m curious to see how the Ravens handle the expiring contracts of Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar. If I had to guess, I think the price for Likely will be too high for Baltimore but they’ll bring back Kolar.

A lot of people will be blinded by Andrews’ Buffalo blunder, but him sticking around for three more years helps the offense much more than it hurts it.

I’m sure this will go over well lol.

But this is something a number of us started to predict might happen given Likely’s contract demands. And he hasn’t even been playing well as of late.

I’d be curious of the terms. If reasonable, I’m quite fine with this. #RavensFlock https://t.co/cinNOT2l3t

— Dev Panchwagh (@devpanchwagh) December 3, 2025

We’re sure to have more reactions roll in, so keep checking back!

The post Knee-Jerk Reactions: Ravens Extend Mark Andrews for 3 Years, $39.3M appeared first on Russell Street Report.

Source: https://russellstreetreport.com/2025/12/03/knee-jerk-reactions/knee-jerk-reactions-ravens-extend-mark-andrews-for-3-years-39-3m/