The Panthers signed Greg Olsen to a three-year contract extension worth $22.5 million, and it’s not hard to see why. He’s become a huge part of their offense – a talented receiver that Cam Newton is comfortable working with.
Olsen has the speed to run vertical routes, and he also can work the middle of the field. Over the last three years, he’s accounted for a larger share of the team’s receiving production than any other tight end in the league.
Three years in a row, in fact, Olsen has caught at least 24 percent of Carolina’s passes. In the same time period, only one other tight end (Jason Witten) has managed to fill that kind of role.
TIGHT ENDS, PERCENTAGE OF RECEPTIONS | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Player | Rec | Team | Pct |
2014 | Greg Olsen, Car. | 84 | 327 | .257 |
2012 | Jason Witten, Dall. | 110 | 434 | .253 |
2013 | Greg Olsen, Car. | 73 | 292 | .250 |
2012 | Greg Olsen, Car. | 69 | 284 | .243 |
2014 | Martellus Bennett, Chi. | 90 | 396 | .227 |
2012 | Tony Gonzalez, Atl. | 93 | 422 | .220 |
2013 | Vernon Davis, S.F. | 52 | 244 | .213 |
2013 | Jordan Cameron, Clev. | 80 | 379 | .211 |
2014 | Delanie Walker, Tenn. | 63 | 299 | .211 |
2012 | Brandon Myers, Oak. | 79 | 376 | .210 |
2014 | Travis Kelce, K.C. | 67 | 320 | .209 |
2014 | Rob Gronkowski, N.E. | 82 | 392 | .209 |
2013 | Antonio Gates, S.D. | 77 | 378 | .204 |
2012 | Jimmy Graham, N.O. | 85 | 423 | .201 |
2012 | Heath Miller, Pitt. | 71 | 354 | .201 |
—Ian Allan