5 Carolina Panthers legends that still need replacing in 2022
By Dean Jones
Greg Olsen – Former Carolina Panthers TE
The legacy left by Greg Olsen on and off the field won’t soon be forgotten. Trading for the tight end was one of the best-ever moves made by the Carolina Panthers and although things ended sourly through injury, nobody an argue that he isn’t the greatest player at the position to ever wear the famous black and blue.
Olsen left in 2022 free agency for the Seattle Seahawks and one last shot at a potential Super Bowl. Sadly for the player, this didn’t come to fruition and he is now carving out a successful role for himself immediately following retirement in the FOX Sports booth.
Not having a reliable pass-catching presence at the tight end spot has hurt the Panthers since Olsen and the team went their separate ways. Ian Thomas was a non-factor under Joe Brady, but new offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo sees something in the Indiana product, which led Carolina to a three-year extension to prevent the former fourth-round pick from hitting the free-agent market.
Tommy Tremble arrived as a third-round pick in 2021 and flashed as a blocker. But he needs some refinement where ball skills are concerned and standing pat with their current options could literally go either way for the Panthers next season.
As for Olsen, with Troy Aikman reportedly agreeing to a bumper contract with ESPN, there could be a promotion coming his way in the not-too-distant future.