Baltimore Ravens TE draws praise from coach, teammates

Between perennial Pro Bowler Mark Andrews and rising star Isaiah Likely, the Baltimore Ravens have what might be the best tight end duo in the NFL today.

That duo has generated plenty of attention, but one player who has flown under the radar is Ravens third tight end Charlie Kolar.

A 2022 fourth-round pick out of Iowa State, Kolar hasn’t seen much action in his first two seasons with just 11 receptions for 136 yards and a touchdown so far. However, the 25-year-old turned some heads this offseason, potentially opening the door for him to play a bigger role this fall.

“He works hard. He’s focused. The biggest thing about Charlie is (that) he just wants to do everything,” Andrews told reporters on May 28. “He wants to be great at everything. And he likes to block. He likes to hit people. , and he likes to be versatile. He can still catch incredible routes. He’ll be for us, too.

Kolar was already an imposing presence at 6-6 and 257 pounds, and he only added more muscle this offseason. For a lock down end, that extra power will make a huge difference when the games really start.

“Yeah, he looks good. Charlie’s been working really hard,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said Thursday. “He’s put on a lot of muscle, lean muscle mass, and I know he’s committed to all aspects of being a good tight end. He wants to be a very good blocker; I know this is important to him and he is just preparing. for this.”

On almost any other team, Kolar would likely be a No. 2 tight end or possibly even higher on the depth chart. However, the Ravens’ luxury of having two great tight ends means Kolar likely won’t get the same opportunity as elsewhere.

Even still, Kolar will have a role to play on offense, whether as a blocker or someone who steps up in case of injury, so Ravens fans will want to keep an eye on his name.

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