Tight End Upgrade? How a Mark Andrews Trade Could Transform the Los Angeles Rams’ Passing Game
The Los Angeles Rams are no strangers to making bold moves. After a Divisional Round exit in the 2024 NFL Playoffs and the departure of Cooper Kupp to the Seattle Seahawks, the Rams, led by head coach Sean McVay and quarterback Matthew Stafford, are looking to retool and make another Super Bowl run in 2025. While the offense boasts stars like Puka Nacua and Kyren Williams, the tight end position remains a question mark. Could a trade for Baltimore Ravens’ veteran Mark Andrews be the answer to unlocking the Rams’ full offensive potential?
The Current Tight End Landscape in Los Angeles
The Rams have invested in the tight end position in recent years. Tyler Higbee, a reliable veteran, is entering the final year of his contract. The team also drafted Terrance Ferguson from Oregon with their first pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. While Ferguson is expected to play a significant role, the Rams may still be looking for a proven, top-tier receiving threat at the position.
According to PFF, Higbee could be on his way out in a contract year after the Rams selected Terrance Ferguson in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft. He is coming off an injury-shortened 2024 season but has been productive when healthy. His 79.1 PFF receiving grade in 2024 shows he has good play left in the tank, but at 32 years old, his prime is behind him.
Mark Andrews: A Potential Game-Changer
Mark Andrews has been a consistent force in the Ravens’ offense since being drafted in 2018. A three-time Pro Bowler, Andrews is known for his reliable hands, route-running ability, and knack for finding the end zone. In the 2024 and 2025 seasons, Andrews had 55 catches for 673 yards and 11 touchdowns. According to PFF, Andrews finished 14th among tight ends in receptions, ninth in yards and first in touchdowns. His 0.52 receiving touchdowns per game are the most among tight ends since 2024.
However, Andrews’s name has surfaced in trade rumors. With the emergence of Isaiah Likely in Baltimore, the Ravens may be willing to part ways with Andrews, who is entering the final year of his contract. ESPN’s Adam Schefter has reported that the writing regarding Andrews has been on the wall since the beginning of the 2024 season when he limped out of the gate and was outshone by Isaiah Likely. It makes way more sense to trade Andrews and elevate Likely to be the unquestioned No. 1 tight end while getting a draft pick in return for Andrews.
How Andrews Fits in McVay’s Offense
Sean McVay has a history of utilizing tight ends effectively in his offense. In Washington, he oversaw the development of Jordan Reed into a dynamic receiving threat. In Los Angeles, he helped Higbee become a reliable target for Stafford. Adding Andrews to the mix would give McVay another weapon to exploit defensive mismatches and create scoring opportunities.
With the addition of Nacua and the presence of star receiver Davante Adams, the Rams’ offense is now equipped to stretch defenses thin. This strategic advantage allows Higbee to exploit mismatches, creating opportunities for Stafford to deliver precise passes in the heart of the field. His experience and established chemistry with Stafford position him as a pivotal player in the Rams’ quest for offensive efficiency.
Andrews’s ability to work the middle of the field would complement the Rams’ existing receiving threats. Nacua and Adams can stretch the field vertically, while Williams provides a threat out of the backfield. Andrews would give Stafford a reliable target on third downs and in the red zone.
The Potential Trade Package
What would it take for the Rams to acquire Andrews? According to CBS Sports, the Rams could look to use their first-round pick (26th overall) on one of the draft’s top tight ends in Colston Loveland or Tyler Warren, but if those two both get taken before the Rams are on the clock, then making a trade for Andrews might be their best bet. Not only would Andrews bring a lot of experience to L.A., but he’d be a solid red zone target for Matthew Stafford.
However, the Rams may be hesitant to part with a high draft pick for a player who is approaching 30 and has only one year left on his contract. A more realistic scenario might involve a Day 2 or Day 3 pick.
The Risks and Rewards
Trading for Andrews would not be without risk. He is coming off a season where he struggled with drops, and he is entering his 30s, which is often a time of decline for tight ends. However, the potential reward of adding a proven, Pro Bowl-caliber player to the Rams’ offense could be worth the risk.
According to Rams Wire, 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.
The Verdict
The Los Angeles Rams are in a Super Bowl-or-bust mode. While they have a solid foundation on offense, the tight end position could use an upgrade. Mark Andrews is a proven player who could provide that upgrade. While there are risks involved, the potential reward of adding Andrews to the Rams’ offense makes a trade worth considering. Whether Les Snead and Sean McVay are willing to pull the trigger remains to be seen, but the possibility of Andrews transforming the Rams’ passing game is an intriguing one.