Carolina acquired Greg Olsen from Chicago for a 2012…
Carolina acquired Greg Olsen from Chicago for a 2012 third-round pick and received nine seasons from one of the best players in franchise history. Olsen caught 524 passes for 6,463 yards and 39 touchdowns as a Panther, made three Pro Bowls and became the first tight end with three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. Chicago later traded the acquired pick, never recovering comparable value.
Carolina Panthers Received
- player Greg Olsen
Chicago Bears Received
- pick 2012 3rd round pick (73rd overall subsequently traded, Brandon Taylor )
Trade Analysis
Why Chicago Moved Olsen
The Bears traded Greg Olsen to Carolina in July 2011 for a 2012 third-round pick. Olsen had already shown receiving ability in Chicago, but the fit with offensive coordinator Mike Martz was imperfect, and the Bears chose to turn the former first-round pick into draft capital. Carolina saw a different opportunity: give rookie quarterback Cam Newton a dynamic, proven tight end.
What Carolina Received
Olsen became a foundational Panther. Over nine seasons in Carolina he caught 524 passes for 6,463 yards and 39 touchdowns. He made three Pro Bowls and, from 2014 through 2016, became the first tight end in NFL history to post three consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons. His route running, durability and chemistry with Newton made him one of the central pieces of Carolina's offense.
What Chicago Received
The Bears received the 73rd pick in the 2012 draft but later traded it away. Whatever secondary value came from moving the choice, Chicago never replaced Olsen's direct production through this transaction. The contrast became especially stark during Carolina's 15-1 season in 2015, when Olsen led the Panthers with 1,104 receiving yards and helped the team reach Super Bowl 50.
Why This Trade Still Matters
This was more than a team finding a useful starter for a mid-round pick. Carolina acquired a franchise-level player at a premium position for a third-rounder and kept him through most of his prime.
Final Verdict
Carolina Panthers Win. Olsen's nine-year body of work makes the Panthers' side an A+. Chicago receives a D. The Bears at least recovered meaningful draft capital, so it is not an absolute zero, but the value surrendered was vastly greater than the return.