Reports: Seahawks to bring Greg Olsen in for free agent visit

Divisional Round - Seattle Seahawks v Carolina Panthers

The Seattle Seahawks will be bringing in former Carolina Panthers tight end Greg Olsen for a free agent visit, according to multiple reports.

Olsen was released by the Panthers on Monday as a new coaching staff is looking to rebuild the Carolina roster. Olsen also has visits scheduled with the Buffalo Bills and Washington Redskins over the next 10 days, per Joseph Person of The Athletic.

I told coach (Matt) Rhule, I told everybody, if they wanted me back, then that would be great. But in the meantime, I didn’t know what the future held, but as long as I was on the team I’d be a resource for them, an asset to them to help that transition,” Olsen said.

“But that wasn’t the case. They weren’t able to commit to me being a part of the team going forward. That was why we thought, better to do it now than just delay the inevitable.”

Olsen will turn 35 years old on March 11 and has missed 18 games combined over the last three seasons to injury. He did appear in 14 of 16 games for the Panthers last year.

The Seahawks are in need of depth at the tight end position and Olsen does make sense as a possible target. Will Dissly is recovering from a torn Achilles tendon sustained in October. Jacob Hollister is scheduled to be a restricted free agent next month and Luke Willson is an unrestricted free agent.

Ed Dickson is still under contract for 2020 but is a likely salary cap cut this offseason as he missed all of last season to injury and the team could save nearly $4 million by releasing him, per OverTheCap.com.

Hollister will likely be tendered as a restricted free agent after a strong season in relief of Dissly, but the team needs to add depth and versatility to the position as Dissly recovers from a second serious injury in as many seasons.

Buffalo's General Manager, Brandon Beane, spent time with Olsen in Carolina and new Washington head coach Ron Rivera was the Panthers head coach during Olsen's tenure with the team. Seattle doesn't have the same personal connections to Olsen but is perhaps the team that is the most viable contender.

Photo Credit: CHARLOTTE, NC - JANUARY 17: Greg Olsen #88 of the Carolina Panthers makes a touchdown reception during the second quarter of the NFC Divisional Playoff Game against the Seattle Seahawks at Bank of America Stadium on January 17, 2016 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)


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