Seahawks sign tight end Greg Olsen from the Panthers

Greg Olsen (Google Images)

We all know that Pete Carroll loves tight ends, and now the Seattle Seahawks have a veteran player at the position who is trying to prove to the National Football League that he is not done yet. On Tuesday according to Reuters, the Seahawks signed tight end Greg Olsen of Paterson, New Jersey from the Carolina Panthers to a one year contract worth $7 million. It is the first most significant free agent signing in the NFL offseason to date.

Remember in the National Football League, not all contracts are guaranteed. Olsen is expected to earn a minimum of $5.5 million in 2020.

Seattle will be Olsen’s third NFL team. In addition to his nine seasons with the Panthers, Olsen played his first four NFL years with the Chicago Bears.

Now with Olsen in Seattle, there are going to be some significant questions. First, what kind of chemistry will he have with the Seahawks franchise quarterback Russell Wilson? Will Olsen be able to stay healthy? Finally, will Olsen be able to be as effective as a tight end as Jimmy Graham was in Seattle from 2015 to 2017?

Last season in Carolina, Olsen missed time due to a concussion. In 14 games, he had 52 catches for 597 yards and two touchdowns. The previous two seasons in 2017 and 2018, Olsen only played 16 games due to a broken right foot.

The Seahawks will be hoping that Olsen generates the same sort of magic on the football field with Wilson as he did with Cam Newton of the Panthers from 2014 to 2016. In 2014, Olsen had 84 catches for 1008 yards and six touchdowns. In 2015, Olsen had 77 catches for 1104 yards and seven touchdowns and in 2016, Olsen had 80 catches for 1073 yards and three touchdowns. In all three seasons from 2014 to 2016, Olsen also went to the Pro Bowl.