AP

The Browns struggled returning punts in 2014, finishing 28th in the league in average yards per return, and they may be interested in bringing a local product to the team in hopes of remedying that next season.

Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that the Browns have reached out to Ginn’s agent and expressed interest in potentially signing him. Ginn, who grew up in Cleveland and went to Ohio State, was released by the Cardinals on Monday.

Browns safety Donte Whitner played with Ginn at OSU and said that he texted coach Mike Pettine to tell him that Ginn would love to come home to play for the Browns. Pettine told him it was “definitely a consideration” and Whitner believes the move would bring out the best in his former college teammate.

“I think it would be a natural fit and I think it would give our fan base another big boost from a hometown guy like Teddy, who played at Ohio State, who played at Glenville High school, who’s a Cleveland native,” Whitner said. “And I think it would give him a boost also, playing in front of his friends, and family and fans that grew up watching him, so I think that would be a big career boost for him also. I’m hopeful that it happens.”

The Browns have a need at wide receiver with Josh Gordon suspended for the 2015 season, although asking Ginn to fill that might be too tall a task for a player who has never established himself in that role. A punt return job could make for the “natural fit” that Whitner believes exists in Cleveland, though, and it seems the Browns will at least explore the possibility.