Greg Olsen reportedly negotiating with Redskins, Seahawks, Bills

Greg Olsen is done with his free agent visits and he is negotiating his next contract with three teams including the Washington Redskins.

Well, it looks like the Washington Redskins will at least have a chance to land some tight end help before free agency begins in March.

After Greg Olsen was released by the Carolina Panthers earlier this month, the veteran tight end became eligible to immediately sign with another team. And now, he has taken his free agent visits and will soon make a decision about where he will play next.

And according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the three teams that Olsen is considering include the Redskins, Buffalo Bills, and Seattle Seahawks.

If Olsen is, in fact, negotiating with the three teams, he may be looking to see which offers him the most favorable contract. Perhaps the 35-year-old wants a multi-year deal to earn job security. Or perhaps he wants to go to a playoff contender but is willing to give his former long-time coach, Ron Rivera, a chance to convince him to come to Washington.

There’s no doubt that Olsen would be an upgrade for the Redskins. In the wake of Vernon Davis‘ retirement and the uncertainty surrounding Jordan Reed, the team has only Jeremy Sprinkle, Hale Hentges, and Caleb Wilson at the position. While all three have some form of upside — Sprinkle as a blocker, Hentges as an all-around backup, and Wilson as a receiver — none are proven. Olsen would give the team a legitimate middle of the field target and could help to mentor a young tight end if the team wants to draft one.

Olsen’s presence also wouldn’t necessarily preclude the team from targeting a guy like Austin Hooper in free agency. If Olsen comes cheap enough, the team could try to sign Hooper and run a lot of two tight end sets to maximize their offensive potential. And if Hooper is too expensive, the team could target a young tight end in the draft to pair with Olsen and Olsen could mentor him.

Olsen does come with some concerns. He dealt with a nagging foot injury that cost him 16 games over the course of the 2017 and 2018 seasons and he missed two games last year. But still, playing with an injured Cam Newton, Kyle Allen, and Will Grier as his starting quarterbacks, he managed 52 receptions for 597 yards and two touchdowns. Not too shabby. He should continue to be a potent receiving weapon.

And it’s worth noting that top-tier tight ends can often play well even in their mid-30s. Just look at what Vernon Davis was able to do with the ‘Skins. So long as Olsen stays healthy, he will have a chance to make an impact.

We’ll ultimately see if Olsen does come to Washington. But at least the Redskins are in the mix for the potential veteran upgrade.