Mark Andrews trade buzz collides with Week 9 slump: what’s real, what’s rumor, and what it means by the deadline

With the NFL trade deadline set for Tuesday, November 4, tight end Mark Andrews finds himself at the center of two converging storylines: a muted start to 2025 on the stat sheet and escalating chatter that contenders are calling about his availability. Add a pivotal Week 9 matchup to the mix and the next 72 hours could redefine his season—and possibly his team.

The state of Mark Andrews in 2025

By traditional standards, Andrews’ production is down. Through eight weeks he’s sitting on roughly two dozen receptions, just over 200 yards, and two touchdowns, numbers that don’t reflect his peak role as a premier seam-stretching target. The usage pattern tells part of the story: tighter target splits with fellow tight end Isaiah Likely, fewer schemed red-zone looks, and a passing game that has leaned more on perimeter matchups than its old middle-of-field staples.

Context matters. Andrews entered the fall carrying the weight of a contract-year backdrop and returned to an offense that has worked to balance its tight end room while managing quarterback health and protection issues. The result has been a steady snap share but fewer high-leverage opportunities.

Trade talk: real interest, real hurdles

Multiple teams have been linked in league chatter—most notably NFC contenders seeking a plug-and-play security blanket for playoff pushes. On paper, Andrews fits perfectly: elite hands, proven chemistry with a mobile quarterback archetype, and postseason experience. In practice, several hurdles complicate a deal:

• Compensation math: A playoff-caliber tight end with a track record commands meaningful draft capital. Buyers will push for protections tied to 2025 production; sellers will want firmer picks up front.

• Cap mechanics: Andrews’ current-year number is workable for win-now teams, but absorbing and extending him takes cap planning. Front offices eyeing a trade would need space for an in-season restructure or a handshake framework for March.

• Offensive install in November: Even a veteran tight end faces terminology and protection adjustments. Two- and three-minute drills, hot routes, and red-zone option trees are tough to master midstream—buyers need confidence he can onboard fast.

The net: interest is credible, but the path to a blockbuster is narrow unless an aggressive bidder decides his 2025 tape undersells his playoff value.

Week 9 outlook: usage vs. Miami and the fantasy angle

The Week 9 opponent offers a soft underbelly between the numbers, but Andrews’ usage has turned touchdown-dependent in recent weeks. Expect defenses to play cat-and-mouse with bracket looks on third down and in the red zone, daring the offense to funnel throws outside. For fantasy managers, that translates to volatile TE2 value unless the game plan deliberately re-centers Andrews on play-action crossers and slot fades.

Three snap-to-snap tells to watch Sunday:

1. Early scripted targets. If Andrews sees two designed touches in the first 10–12 plays, it’s a signal the call sheet is bending back toward him.

2. Red-zone personnel. Two-tight-end groupings near the 15 with Andrews isolated weak side are the classic look; if he’s part of bunch stacks instead, expect more decoy routes than first reads.

3. Third-and-mediums. His route depth around the sticks is a usage barometer—sitting short means YAC hope, crossing at 8–10 yards means intent.

What a trade (or no trade) would mean

If he’s moved by Nov. 4:

• Immediate role: A condensed package—seam, pivot, slide protection, and red-zone isolation—while the new staff layers in full installs.

• Rest-of-season value: Efficiency can spike even if volume doesn’t; contenders create more red-zone snaps.

• 2026 trajectory: A new deal or tag-and-negotiate path likely follows quickly after the season.

If he stays:

• Role recalibration: Expect a post-deadline reset where coordinators recommit to middle-field touches to stabilize the offense.

• Market signaling: Standing pat suggests the current team values continuity and believes the underlying usage will normalize down the stretch.

Risk and reward for buyers

Tight end is a scarce spot where one above-average pass-catcher can change coverage rules. For a receiver-heavy team that lacks a middle-field bully on money downs, Andrews is a force multiplier—he dictates nickel vs. base decisions and pries open layup throws for wideouts. The risk is the ramp: if he needs 2–3 games to sync protections and sight adjustments, the window for immediate impact narrows.

• The rumor mill is hot because Andrews’ resume and the calendar invite calls; that doesn’t guarantee movement.

• Week 9 is a hinge game for both narrative and value—strong usage against Miami would quiet the noise or, paradoxically, raise the price.

• If a deal happens, it will likely be a contender paying for red-zone gravity and January problem-solving, not raw yardage totals.

Until the clock hits 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Andrews sits in that rare NFL limbo where a single weekend can shift both his team and his trajectory. Whether he changes jerseys or not, the sharper bet is on a role resurgence: talented tight ends with established quarterback trust don’t stay quiet for long when the playoff race tightens.