Four Downs: Can Andrews & Zay Carry Passing Attack?

First Down: Is Andrews due for a monster season, or checked expectations?

When it comes to the tight end position in Baltimore, there are three truths that need to be addressed. First, Mark Andrews signed a three-year contract extension with $26 million guaranteed. Secondly, Isaiah Likely is a member of the New York Giants. Third, Andrews is coming off of a season in which he only had 48 receptions, 488 yards, and five touchdowns. While his longevity with the Ravens has gotten him to the top of the franchise record book, he is coming off his worst season (statistically) since his rookie campaign. He actually had higher numbers in the 2023 season, when he got hurt in November, and missed the rest of the year.

The Ravens essentially chose Andrews over Likely.

The most troubling stat for Andrews is that his average yards per catch went down to 8.8. Throughout his career, he has been more of a 12-13 yards-per-catch kind of tight end. In comparison, Likely had 11.4 yards per catch (yet only 27 receptions). When the Ravens took shots in the intermediate passing game, Likely was more often the target. When Lamar Jackson or Tyler Huntley needed a safety valve, they found Andrews. Is this a result of Andrews no longer having the youth and quickness as a route runner that he used to possess, or the Ravens simply leaning into Likely’s dynamic ability last season? Andrews should at least in theory have double the opportunities in the passing attack with Likely (and Charlie Kolar) gone. If he goes back to being more of an intermediate passing game threat, and the yards shoot up to more of the 600-800-yard range it will show that he has not regressed as a player. If Andrews stays under 10 yards per reception, that is an indicator that he is in the back half of an incredible career.

Look at it this way: Todd Heap only played 12 seasons in the NFL. The same is true of Rob Gronkowski, if you want a non-Ravens example. Andrews is entering his ninth year, and had a major injury a few season ago. After the two colossal mishaps that he had in the playoff game against the Bills, I thought Andrews was due for a revenge tour-type of season. The numbers leave you wanting for a player of his status.

It’s important to add some fairness to this conversation. Andrews is a well-balanced player, who can block, and is still one heck of a red zone threat. I’m not counting him out. I don’t think it would be emotionally possible for the Ravens to have not chosen number 89.

Andrews is one of the most beloved Ravens of all time, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have a lot to prove this season.

Second Down: Tez Breakout?

Devontez Walker doesn’t always get thrown footballs, but when he does, it is usually a big play. He had one grab in 2024, and it was a 21-yard touchdown. In 2025, he had just six receptions and put up 136 yards and three touchdowns. I know it is a small sample size, but how did Todd Monken not call his number more? The main idea about the Ravens at wide receiver is that Zay Flowers does all the heavy lifting. Rashod Bateman has some splash plays here or there. What else do the Ravens have? Youth and untapped potential.

Walker has almost no excuse. This has to be his breakout season. His competition for the third wide receiver spot includes two rookies in Ja’Kobi Lane and Elijah Sarratt. LaJohntay Wester is more of a kick returner. Dayton Wade has been around a minute as a preseason darling, but let’s be honest, Walker has the edge right? He came into the league as a project that needed polishing. He needed to learn the position at the NFL, get better at route running, and build up some strength. The things that were never in question: speed, explosiveness and his ability to go get the football. He’s had some time to develop himself at this level, and managed to have random highlights along the way. What if the Ravens have a breakout star here?

I’m not saying that the Ravens have a superstar hidden behind Flowers and Bateman. I do think though that he could be a third option at wide receiver that makes the NFL stop and notice. I could see Walker being comparable to the Bengals’ Andrei Iosivas. You can’t tell me that a 33-reception season for 400-500 yards is unrealistic for Walker if the Ravens choose to use him.

Tez Walker SZN? pic.twitter.com/KaRUXLS1cl

— RAMEY (@HoodieRamey) December 16, 2024

Third Down: Zay the Deep Threat?

The last time we saw Zay Flowers, he was sneaking behind the Pittsburgh defense for a wide open touchdown reception down the field. Flowers is not a stranger to those big plays. (Though ooddly, some of his most memorable deep shots come in big losses: do you remember the start of the AFC Championship game against the Chiefs?)

You have to wonder if the Ravens have underutilized the deep play ability of Flowers. He has back-to-back seasons with over 1,000 yards. The next step in his game is increasing his touchdown output. He’s never had more than five touchdowns in a season despite racking up 237 grabs in his career.

Declan Doyle seems to be a more aggressive offensive coordinator. You just have the feeling that he’s going to find a way for Flowers to get open down the field more often. Say what you want about Rashod Bateman; he has been the Ravens’ most consistent deep threat. He has six catches 36 yards or longer in the past two seasons. A lot of times when Jackson has taken shots down the field, he’s looked for Bateman or DeAndre Hopkins.

Flowers has the best skill set on the team, so this is actually kind of surprising when you think about it. My prediction is that Flowers scores an extra three to four touchdowns this season, just because Doyle is going to make sure he takes the top off of the defense on a much more regular basis.

Fourth Down: Lamar has done more with less

The national media can’t talk about the Ravens without suggesting that Lamar Jackson doesn’t have enough help around him at wide receiver. Remember the 2019 season? Jackson was the MVP while throwing to Marquise Brown, Willie Snead, and Seth Roberts. The year before that he had a washed up Micheal Crabtree, and Chris Moore in the mix. When Jackson won his second MVP award, he had Nelson Agholor, and an old Odell Beckham Jr, as two of his top receivers.

The one sneaky thing to like about the current crop of receivers is that there isn’t the token old receiver in the group. The Ravens have unproven talent that they can foster and develop. Re-signing Hopkins would take away from this. Going out and getting another receiver on his last leg would actually dilute the promise of the receiving room.

Should The Ravens Add Another Wide Receiver?

Wouldn’t you rather see a breakout year from Walker? Wouldn’t you like to see one of the rookies make an impact out of nowhere? For the first time in a while, the Ravens have a back end of a receiver corps that isn’t propped up by a veteran for the sake of it being propped up by a veteran.

Let them cook. Maybe one of them will create a heck of a meal.

The post Four Downs: Can Andrews & Zay Carry Passing Attack? appeared first on Russell Street Report.