The Seattle Seahawks won the Greg Olsen sweepstakes. The Seahawks signed the 34-year-old tight end to a one-year, $7 million deal. Olsen was also in negotiations with the Buffalo Bills and Washington Redskins, but ultimately chose the team where he feels he can win big immediately.
It was the right choice.
Olsen and the Seahawks are a perfect match. Seattle suffered an abundance of injuries down the stretch of the season. They lost their top three running backs for the season in Chris Carson, Rashaad Penny, and C.J. Prosise. The biggest loss might have been tight end Will Dissly. He was coming on as one of Russell Wilson's favorite targets until he tore his Achilles early in the season. This left Seattle without a trustworthy tight end.
They now have one in Olsen. This is a signing that will show its effects on and off the field for Seattle.
Olsen's impact in Seattle
Olsen's impact will be immediately felt on Day 1 of training camp. Seattle already has a strong locker room led by Wilson and Pete Carroll, but Olsen is yet another veteran presence who can be a leader.
The main problem for Olsen has been durability. This has come on over the last three years. From his rookie year in 2007 to 2016, Olsen missed just two games and turned into one of the best tight ends in the game. Over the last three seasons, Olsen has missed 18 games. He flirted around with the idea of broadcasting full-time, but he decided to give winning a Super Bowl another shot.
Olsen gives the Seahawks another weapon. D.K. Metcalf came on toward the end of the season and looked like a No. 1 option. Olsen has proven throughout his career that he is an elite pass catcher and run blocker. At 6-foot-5, Olsen is also a red-zone threat. There will be many plays drawn up for Olsen at every spot on the field.
Tight ends are often viewed as a safety net for quarterbacks. Olsen was Cam Newton's for years and now he will be the same for Wilson. Olsen has the ability to come off a block when he sees Wilson scrambling out of the pocket, which is something that happens a lot given the state of the Seahawks' offensive line. This will allow Wilson to have a player to complete a short pass to rather than looking to run or throwing it away.
No matter what angle this signing is looked at, it is a win for both sides. Olsen will join a contender in the NFC and make their offense better immediately. Seattle adds an elite tight end and addresses a big need on the roster.
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