Carolina Panthers: The Greg Olsen contract conversation
Greg Olsen is hoping for a new contract with the Carolina Panthers, but the team may be looking to go in another, younger direction.
Veteran leaders are expected to be model players both on and off the field. The Carolina Panthers have an important veteran leader in tight end Greg Olsen. However, the team is at a crossroads with their standout player. Olsen wants an extension and Carolina is looking to get younger across the board. This means that Olsen’s time with the Charlotte-based organization may be coming to an end.
Olsen is a valuable member of this offense, and that’s quite an understatement. He’s been one of, if not the main weapon, for Cam Newton since 2012. He’s averaged 839 reception yards and averaged nearly five touchdowns per season. If you remove the outlier that was the 2017 year in which he battled injuries and only played in seven games, those numbers sky rocket. H
e’s made numerous big plays that have helped this team overcome obstacles season after season. But even with those accolades on his resume, it seems like he isn’t a shoe-in to get the contract extension that he’s seeking.
From David Newton of ESPN:
"“My preference would be to continue to play,” Olsen said as reported by David Newton of ESPN. “I still love playing for the Panthers and I would prefer to finish my career at Carolina. I wouldn’t see myself love to go play elsewhere. But this is the last year of my contract. A lot of that plays into what the future holds. Where we are in all of that, I’m not really sure. As the offseason plays out, it would be nice to kind of know what my future is past this year here in Carolina. That would make a lot of the other decisions easier.”"
That’s a strong statement by Olsen. He’s drawing the line that he wants to remain a Panther, but that comes at a cost to the team. A cost that goes beyond the financial numbers, the but questions surrounding whether or not he will be contributing at the same level that the Panthers expect.
At 33 years old he struggled with foot injuries that severely limited his ability on the field. Olsen didn’t play like the tight end that holds numerous records for that position. In viewing that, the Panthers have moved in a direction that seems like they are gathering insurance for Olsen coming into the 2018 season.
In 2018 the Panthers have completed transactions to bring on Evan Baylis, Kent Taylor, and Chris Manhertz to the roster. Losing Ed Dickson to the Seattle Seahawks was a big blow that limited their options at back up. Some experts have the Panthers selecting a tight end with a mid-round pick in the upcoming NFL Draft. It’s clear that the team is picking up options to see what’s available if Olsen cannot perform up to expectations. But what does that mean for his long term status with the team?
It will be interesting to see if Carolina can work out a short term deal with Olsen. He wants something longtime, according to his statement he’s looking for a three to five year deal. At his age it would be shocking if the Panthers locked him into a long term deal. It would be in the team’s best interest to bring him on for a 1-2 year deal, but the question is whether or not Olsen would be willing to agree to such parameters.
Next: NFL Mock Draft 2018: Final projection on draft day
Heading into the 2018 NFL Draft, the Panthers storyline with Greg Olsen is one to watch. The tight end position is important for any quarterback as a reliable player brings value to the offense. Newton has thrived with Olsen on the field and struggled without him. With his recent injury issues in their memory, it will be intriguing to see whether or not he remains a member of this organization for a long time.