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Baltimore Ravens, Rob Housler a great match?

By Kevin Parvizi

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The Baltimore Ravens have one of the NFL’s most talented tight ends in Dennis Pitta, but back-to-back major injuries could force him to retire after being one of the most promising pass-catching talents around. Owen Daniels‘s departure to the Denver Broncos in order to meet up with old pal Gary Kubiak, who is now the Broncos head coach, has left the Ravens thin at TE.

2014 draft pick Crockett Gillmore is an intriguing option, but the Ravens simply can’t afford to roll into 2015 with the Colorado State product as their only sure-fire contributor at the position, largely because there’s nothing “sure” about a player with ten receptions in just one season.

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Former Arizona Cardinals tight end Rob Housler has made the rounds this offseason, and he now has interest from three AFC North teams. After the TE-desperate Cleveland Browns showed interest in Housler, FOX Sports 910’s Mike Jurecki reports that the Cincinnati Bengals have joined the Ravens as another AFC North team with interest in Ken Whisenhunt‘s former high-upside project.

Per Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun, the Ravens and Housler have engaged in talks, and while no deal is imminent, there is “mutual interest” between both parties. While the Browns are the team in the division with the greatest need for a pass-catching tight end after losing out on Jordan Cameron to the Miami Dolphins, the Ravens aren’t in great shape at the position either with Daniels gone and Pitta’s future totally up in the air.

Housler isn’t exactly a sure thing, of course, since he never had a Cameron-esque breakout after being tabbed for one during back-to-back seasons with the Cardinals. Once Bruce Arians hopped on board, the Cards essentially scrapped the idea of a Housler breakout. In 2012 and 2013, he at least caught 45 and 39 passes, respectively, but that number plummeted to a mere nine in 2014, as the Cardinals opted to give free agent signing John Carlson the lion’s share of the targets at the position.

Wilson’s report states that the Ravens and Housler will likely continue talks in order to reach “a financial compromise”, and the fact that a number of teams have shown interest in him without Housler signing a deal indicates that he’s looking for significantly more money than we would expect. Conventional wisdom states that he won’t receive more than a one-year, prove-it deal, since he’s an unproven commodity.

But, since he has so much upside with his 6’5″, 250-pound frame and beastly 4.46 forty pedigree, he also has designs on making bank in the near future after, hopefully, establishing himself as a legit pass-catching threat on a new team. He’s never been outside of the confines of Arizona, so a new team could get the most out of his tantalizing physical tools.

That new team could be the Baltimore Ravens, and, like the Browns and, previously, the Atlanta Falcons (who chose the injury-prone Tony Moeaki as the man to sign along with the steady and unspectacular Jacob Tamme), Housler would immediately be a big part of the offense. While the Ravens could easily draft a TE this year even after taking Gillmore in 2014, they need wide receiver help more after losing Torrey Smith.

So for the Ravens, the best bet is to sign someone like Housler, pair him up with Gillmore to create a high-upside duo in the hopes that one of them breaks out, and then focus their efforts on WR help (which they desperately need).

Oct 12, 2014; Tampa, FL, USA; Baltimore Ravens tight end Crockett Gillmore (80) works out prior to the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

If signed, Housler would likely fight with Gillmore in a wide open competition, but the loser would still receive a diet of targets. For Housler, the Ravens are his best opportunity at boosting his stock, because it’s easier to earn a role with Gillmore as the other TE as opposed to Tyler Eifert.

Even though the Browns have by far the worst tight ends of the bunch in the pass-catching department (Jim Dray with a side order of some ripe Gary Barndige, anyone?), they also have by far the worst QB situation. I’d much rather take Joe Flacco over Josh McCown (or Johnny Manziel), and Flacco is a preferable option to Andy Dalton (and it really isn’t close either).

I’m not surprised to see that Rob Housler and the Ravens have mutual interest, because both sides could really benefit from each other. If he can bring his asking price down to match what a playoff contender still looking for other pass-catching help is willing to take, then I’d say we have a match. Realistically, the Ravens don’t have better options, and, in all honesty, the same could be said for Housler.

Next: Should Ravens draft a WR in first?

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