The Redskins Future At TE Is Uncertain Could Mark Andrews Provide Security And Reliability?

Mark Andrews, TE
School: Oklahoma | Conference: BIG 12
College Experience: rJr | Age: 21?
Height / Weight: 6-5 / 254 lbs
Projected Draft Status: 3rd Round
NFL Comparison: Jack Doyle

College Statistics

Player Overview

Mark Andrews was recruited to Oklahoma as a wide receiver. He was moved to tight end after his redshirt freshman year. Andrews was initially opposed to the move. He had committed to Oklahoma in part because they did recruit him as a wide receiver. After a sit down with Andrews, the coaching staff had convinced him that the move was what was best for the team and best for Andrews as a player to make it to the NFL. They were right. Andrews is one of the top if not the top TE in this year's draft. Before Andrews played a single regular season game for the Sooners he had a scary incident after a bye week practice. Andrews is a type 1 diabetic and something had thrown off his routine badly enough that he entered a state of hypoglycemia that evening and was unresponsive. His roommate found him after checking to see if he wanted to get something to eat and was able to get sugar into his system thanks to instructions from Andrew’s mother and some nearby fruit chews. Thankfully Andrews did not have any lasting injury after the event.

Andrews is coming off an excellent season. A season where he won the Mackey Award which is given to college football’s best tight end. Andrews was a key part of Oklahoma’s offense and a was a go-to target for Baker Mayfield. He is a threat in the short and the intermediate passing game and is a good athlete. Andrews is a big target and uses his size well to shield catches. He is surprisingly effective after the catch also. Andrews isn’t an elite athlete but he probably should just be classified as a really big slot receiver / move TE. Andrews rarely lined up inline and has a lot to work on in the blocking department. Still, he is above average athlete capable of busting seams and presenting mismatches against linebackers and safeties and in the right offense can be used as a very effective weapon.

Strengths

• Excellent size and above average athlete for the position.
• Particularly effective in the middle of the field and in the red zone. Finds ways to create separation and physical at the top of his routes. Sneaky quickness allows him to exploit zone coverage.
• Pays attention to route running and its nuances they aren't always crisp but they are run with purpose and intent.
• Reliable hands with huge catch radius. Can go up and get it and pull it out of the dirt adjusts well to the ball in the air.
• Sneaky dangerous after the catch. Big target to bring down and can make defenders miss with his footwork and strength.

Weaknesses

• Not an elite athlete at the position and his dominance in college due to his athletic traits will narrow in the NFL.
• Not an inline player not really a blocker as much as he gets in the way. Won’t help the Redskins in the run game. Teams are going to take it as is or spend a lot of time trying to teach him.
• Elusive but not very agile mostly a straight line guy.
• Noticed a few concentration drops that should be monitored.

Let’s see his work:

More Mark Andrews videos

How He Would Fit On The Redskins

Jordan Reed’s availability still remains a question and I don’t expect Vernon Davis to be resigned after his contract is up in 2019 and I’m not sure if Niles Paul is going to be re-signed at all. The Redskins could wait until the need for the position becomes immediate or they could draft a player like Andrews and experience little drop off in receiving production when his number is called. Right now Andrews is still atop most draft boards at the position but that could change based on teams personal preferences for the other receiving tight ends in the draft who may be better athletes ascending. Andrews biggest weakness by far is his run blocking and the fact that he rarely lined up at the inline spot at Oklahoma. Andrews will require a technical overhaul to fix that issue. I think the team that drafts him should view him as a pure receiving option and I think he would be a good fit for a team that consistently lines their tight ends up in the slot like the Patriots, Saints etc. The Redskins do line up Reed and Davis in the slot but they primary alignment of the Redskins TEs is inline. Andrews can be effective as a receiver from this starting point but he isn't going to stop a lot of DEs and EDGE guys on running plays. In that regard, he and Jordan Reed aren’t that dissimilar. Andrews would definitely be a luxury pick and he’ll be one fans won’t appreciate until his play is necessary.