The Browns' search for tight end help has not proven fruitful in free agency. Top target Charles Clay was transition tagged by Miami, then scored a five-year, $38-million offer sheet from Buffalo. The Browns weren't going to spend that much on Clay, no matter how much they liked him.
They offered former Brown Jordan Cameron a two-year re-up, but Cameron took Clay's place in Miami. The Browns talked with Ed Dickson, but he re-upped in Carolina.
That leaves the Browns with veterans Jim Dray and Gary Barnidge, with more help on the way through the second wave of free agency or the draft.
The Browns have had discussions with Cardinals tight end Rob Housler, according to a source, and mutual interest exists but nothing is imminent and no visits are planned as of now.
Housler had 84 catches for nearly 900 yards from 2012-13, but his production plummeted to nine catches and 129 yards last year. Housler recently visited the Falcons, according to ESPN.com's Vaughn McClure.
Housler's rep is pretty clear: Speedy pass-catcher, not a stout blocker, which is required in Bruce Arians' system in Arizona. The Browns would like a blocking anchor, too, but the reality is they need downfield help from the tight end spot, and the options are fairly limited.
Dray and Barnidge are reliable players but won't break out very often. Housler's skill set is intriguing -- he's 6-foot-5, 250 pounds and ran a sub-4.5 40 coming out of college.
He seems like the classic one-year-deal upside pickup.