When the news broke on Monday evening that former Carolina Panthers tight end Greg Olsen would meet with the Washington Redskins as a prospective free agent this week, many fans probably had an uneasy feeling.
And who could blame them? Olsen is a 34-year-old, injury-riddled veteran pass-catcher who is definitely past his prime. Sound familiar? After having been front and center for the Jordan Reed experience over the past several years, it’s understandable why Washington fans aren’t quick to hoist their hopes and dreams on an aging tight end who has shown an inability to stay healthy throughout the season; that just doesn’t fit with the narrative of change that has been ever-present since Team President Bruce Allen was fired in December. In order for the Redskins to move forward, they simply cannot sign Olsen and stick him in their TE1 position, hoping that he can stay healthy and shore up that position in 2020.
That doesn’t mean they can’t sign him, though…
The truth is, Olsen would be a highly valuable asset for the Redskins offense. Washington would do well to bring him into the building this offseason to be a part of the TE room, but with a caveat — he can’t be the only part of the TE room. In order for the Redskins to truly convince the world that they’re moving forward, they have to avoid past mistakes, such as putting all of their eggs in the basket of an injury-prone and aging tight end. If Washington were to sign Olsen, it would only make sense for them to also draft a young TE in April, and start a grooming process within the building. That’s where Olsen’s value really comes in, as he is one of the most well-respected veterans in the NFL, and he could undoubtedly help a rookie get accustomed to the league.
It would probably be hard for Olsen to pass up on this opportunity, as well. It’s been rumored that he may be considering retirement soon, if not this season, and what the future holds for the 34-year-old is unknown. It could be a TV career, or it could be in the coaching realm. If he were to stay in the game as a coach, what better place to start than in Washington with his longtime coaching staff working under Ron Rivera?
Olsen is also set to meet with the Buffalo Bills and Seattle Seahawks this week, so him coming to Washington is anything but set in stone. But before you fire off your tweet’s saying that Olsen is too old, and doesn’t fit with the Redskins, just take a second to think about the value he could bring. He may not fit as the No. 1 TE for the future in Washington, but as a veteran presence to help a rookie who is being inundated by the NFL world at large? It would be hard to find someone more cut out for the job.
[vertical-gallery id=29783]