The Ravens spent last December making a bet on their tight end room, and it already looks like a risky one. Baltimore handed Mark Andrews a three-year, $39.3 million extension, a move that would push Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar toward free agency.
At the time, locking in a veteran who was trending down raised eyebrows. With training camp rolling and preseason reps now in the mix, that decision feels even more questionable.
Baltimore hadn’t gotten much from the tight end group heading into preseason action, which put extra pressure on rookies Matthew Hibner and Josh Cuevas in the opener against the Philadelphia Eagles. Hibner, at least, delivered.
The Ravens traded up to select Hibner in the 2026 NFL Draft, and the fit makes sense. Baltimore has long leaned on tight ends, and new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle brings an offense that keeps that position central to the passing game. If Hibner and Cuevas are going to carve out roles, Hibner looks like the one who needs to become the passing-down option.
He looked the part against Philadelphia. Hibner caught all five of his targets for 61 yards, and his biggest play came early when he beat the defense deep for a 29-yard gain on his first look. He also showed some burst after the catch, piling up 36 yards after the reception.
That effort earned him the top grade among rookie tight ends in preseason Week 1 from Pro Football Focus, which gave him a 92.6.
Hibner had already been the most productive tight end in camp, so the preseason stage gave him a chance to back up the buzz. The SMU product did exactly that.
It’s only one preseason performance, and it would be a stretch to call it anything more than that. Still, after a debut like this, it’s easy to see why the Ravens may have something real here.
Hibner looks like a capable rotational piece right now, and maybe more than that down the line behind Mark Andrews. In a Declan Doyle-coached offense, the ceiling is there.
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