The Indianapolis Colts should make the call to trade for this underused star player on an AFC foe's roster

The Indianapolis Colts passing game has struggled through the first three weeks.

One area where it's hurting them is in terms of time of possession. Through the season's first three weeks, the Colts have only been on offense for a league-worst 64 minutes and 48 seconds. The second worst is the Atlanta Falcons, who still have nine extra minutes compared to the Colts, which have 73 minutes and 48 seconds.

So, the Colts clearly need players who excel at moving the chains. They got second-year slot wide receiver Josh Downs back last week, which will be a big help. But they need drastically better play out of the tight end position, and it's starting to be evident that the future at TE for the Colts isn't currently on their roster. And there just so happens to be a star TE who is being underutilized early in the season that the Colts should pick up the phone and pursue via trade. That player is Baltimore Ravens TE Mark Andrews.

The Colts should trade for Ravens TE Mark Andrews

Andrews suffered an ankle injury in Week 11 of 2023 that was believed to sideline him for the rest of the season. But he battled through his rehab and was able to suit up for the AFC Championship against the Kansas City Chiefs. He ended that game with only two receptions for 15 yards, but it gave fans hope that their star TE would return to his elite status in 2024.

The Ravens drafted Andrews with the 86th pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. Since being drafted, he has recorded the third most receiving yards by a TE with 4,922 yards, only trailing Travis Kelce (7,497) and George Kittle (5,875). He has also found the endzone 40 times, which is the second most by a TE since 2018, only trailing Kelce (54).

So far in 2024, the Ravens have prioritized using 24-year-old Isaiah Likely, who has 16 targets through three games, compared to Andrews, who only has eight. The Ravens could keep both around, but due to Likely being drafted in the fourth round, he's only making $1.1 million this season and is set for a slight pay raise next year with $1.2 million. If he leads the Ravens TE room in 2024, I have a hunch he and his representation would want the Ravens to get an early start on his contract extension and bypass his current 2025 salary.

The Colts should test the waters and call the Ravens about a trade for Andrews. With him trying to return from his injury, there's no guarantee he will ever return to the version of him that put up career numbers in 2021 with 1,361 yards and nine touchdowns. The longer the Ravens don't use Andrews, the less they would be able to demand in a potential trade. He has a $16.9 million cap hit for this year and next, which isn't a small number by any means. But I think the Colts have the luxury of quarterback Anthony Richardson being on a rookie contract to take the risk and offer up a trade package that my best guess would be for a third-round pick and some change. And due to him playing with a mobile QB like Lamar Jackson, he has experience breaking his route when Jackson leaves the pocket and finding holes in the defense to move the chains and pick up key first downs. If you remember from the beginning of this article, this is precisely what the Colts offense needs.

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