Greg Olsen No. 67 in the NFL Top 100
Greg Olsen became the second Carolina Panthers player to be named to the annual list of the NFL’s top 100 players…
Carolina Panthers tight end Greg Olsen has been named to the NFL Network’s “Top 100 Players of 2017,” his third straight recognition. Olsen dropped 29 positions in the ranking but settled in higher than his initial spot (89) from 2015.
Olsen joins linebacker Thomas Davis as the only two Panthers currently on the list. Davis was ranked No. 89 overall for his continued production on the defensive side of the football.
The Panthers tight end recorded a similar number of catches and yardage as his past two seasons, but struggled to find the end zone. After two touchdowns in the first four games of the season, Olsen added only one additional score and was kept out of the end zone for the last eight games of the year.
Related Story: Thomas Davis No. 89
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Regardless, he became the first tight end in NFL history to record three straight 1,000-yard seasons. Olsen’s 1,073 yards on 80 catches were both team highs as quarterback Cam Newton continues targeting his pass catching tight end.
Olsen also contributed in the run game with his above average blocking ability and willingness to assist in any role. At age 32, some believed the Panthers would target a tight end in the NFL Draft as an understudy and eventual replacement.
None were selected as Carolina feels confident enough in the current group to continue their production in 2017. Olsen, like Davis, continues to elevate his play even as he ages. Despite the offensive additions of Christian McCaffrey and Curtis Samuel, expect Olsen’s role to remain similar moving forward.
As the countdown continues stay tuned to see if any other Panthers join both Olsen and Davis on the list.