This NFL offseason, Steven Ruiz will be offering his thoughts and grading every major deal that goes down, including contract extensions, trades and free-agent signings.
Greg Olsen wasn’t unemployed for very long. The former Panthers tight end, who was released by Carolina earlier this month, agreed to terms with the Seahawks on a one-year deal worth $7 million, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The contract includes $5.5 million guarantees.
If the Seahawks think they’re getting the All-Pro tight end we saw in Carolina before injuries took their toll, well, I have some bad news. But here’s some good news: While Greg Olsen may longer be at that level, he remains a valuable player and one who will fill a hole on Seattle’s roster.
Olsen is not the athlete he once was — the 4.5 40-yard-dash he ran at the 2007 combine is probably closer to a 4.7 now — but he still knows how to get open thanks to all the little tricks he’s learned over the first dozen years of his career. He’s a professional route runner who can run past slower linebackers or box out smaller safeties while lined up in the slot or isolated out wide.
Olsen’s 2019 numbers aren’t super impressive — he averaged 7.3 yards per target but most of the blame for that falls on the poor service he got from Carolina’s backup quarterbacks. Of the 82 targets he received last season, 22 were charted as “uncatchable” by Sports Info Solutions. Only three tight ends saw fewer off-target passes thrown their way.
This play pretty much sums up Olsen’s experience in 2019. He beats his man with some professional route-running only for his quarterback to miss wildly…
This should improve now that Russell Wilson will be the one providing him with targets. The partnership should be mutually beneficial, too, as Seattle has lacked a reliable slot target ever since Doug Baldwin announced his retirement. With Olsen out there, Wilson will have a tight end he can trust to get open and catch the ball on third down. He should compliment D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett well with his ability to win in the middle part of the field.
You could do a lot worse than Olsen for $7 million. With Austin Hooper, Hunter Henry and Eric Ebron expected to sign longer deals with average salaries approaching the eight-figure mark, the Seahawks managed to find good value a month before the free agency period kicks off. That’s a good way to kick off what will be a vital offseason in the Pacific Northwest.
Of course, there’s a catch. A player with Olsen’s track record would typically command a higher number on the open market, but he’s approaching 35 and has missed an average of six games over the past three seasons.
The success of this deal will ultimately hinge on Olsen’s ability to stay healthy, but even if he does end up hurt, Seattle isn’t making a big financial commitment as this deal allows them to release Ed Dickson, who spent all of 2019 on injured reserve, and save $3 million in the process. And Olsen will likely have to play a full 16-game season to earn the entirety of his $7 million salary.
Grade: C+
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