The Ravens haven’t yet signed star quarterback Lamar Jackson to a monster contract extension, but they’ve made sure his favorite target isn’t going anywhere.
A week before kicking off the new season at Las Vegas, Baltimore agreed to a four-year contract extension with tight end Mark Andrews that runs through the 2025 campaign. According to NFL Network and ESPN, the deal is worth $56 million and includes $37.6 million guaranteed to make Andrews the third-highest-paid tight end in the NFL in average annual value behind only George Kittle ($15 million per year) and Travis Kelche ($14.3 million per season). With the announcement coming on his 26th birthday, Andrews no longer has to worry about playing out the final year of his rookie contract or where he’ll call his football home beyond 2021.
“Mark is exactly the type of player we wish to keep as a Raven long-term,” general manager Eric DeCosta said in a statement released by the team. “He’s competitive, passionate, talented, and a leader. We are so excited to have him in Baltimore for the next five years.
“Congratulations to Mark and his family — and happy birthday.”
Selected in the third round of the 2018 draft out of Oklahoma, Andrews immediately became the top weapon in the passing game when Jackson became the Ravens’ starting quarterback midway through their rookie season. The 6-foot-5, 256-pound Andrews has caught 17 touchdowns over the last two seasons, most among all tight ends and tied for eighth in the league overall. Andrews earned a trip to the Pro Bowl in 2019 with 64 catches for 852 yards and 10 touchdowns and followed that breakout campaign with a solid 58 catches for 701 yards and seven touchdowns in 14 games last season.
He is the only tight end in franchise history to produce multiple seasons of at least 700 receiving yards and seven receiving touchdowns. Andrews also set the team’s rookie record for most receptions (34) and receiving yards (552) by a tight end.
Andrews is the third cornerstone player to sign a lucrative long-term deal with the Ravens over the last calendar year, joining two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Marlon Humphrey and 2019 Pro Bowl left tackle Ronnie Stanley. With the standout tight end’s contract extension now done, even more attention will fall on Jackson, who is already guaranteed $23.106 million in 2022 after the Ravens exercised their fifth-year option on the 2018 first-round pick this spring.
