CHARLOTTE - The Panthers continued to add talent at the tight end position Thursday, acquiring prolific pass catcher Greg Olsen from the Chicago Bears in exchange for an undisclosed draft pick.
Olsen is the second former University of Miami tight end the Panthers have added since last season. Carolina signed free agent Jeremy Shockey on March 3.
Both Olsen and Shockey overlapped with Panthers offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski at Miami. Chudzinski, who also played tight end for the Hurricanes, coached at his alma mater from 1994-2003 before moving to the NFL.
Olsen, like Shockey, is a former first-round draft pick, having been selected 27th overall by the Bears in the 2007 draft. With 194 catches for 1,981 yards and 20 touchdowns in his first four seasons, Olsen has averaged about 50 catches for 500 yards and five touchdowns a year.
That's fairly close to the pace set by Shockey, who has 510 receptions for 5,688 yards and 33 touchdowns in his nine NFL seasons. Olsen actually is averaging more touchdowns per season than Shockey, having led the Bears in touchdown receptions in 2008 and '09 and tying for the lead last season.
Olsen caught 41 passes for 404 yards and five touchdowns last season following a career-best year in 2009 when he grabbed 60 balls for 612 yards and eight touchdowns.
