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As the team's official website reported it, "Record-setting tight end Greg Olsen has signed a three-year contract extension through the 2018 season. ..." Which means fantasy football owners will have at least one more consistent weapon at a position where streaming has become a viable option due to a lack of consistent high-end producers.

Olsen, coming off a career year in which he earned his first Pro Bowl appearance after setting franchise records for receptions and receiving yards by a tight end in a season, has been that.

His 84 receptions topped his previous team record of 73 in 2013, and his 1,008 receiving yards surpassed his previous team record of 843 in 2012. His production helped the Panthers win the NFC South title for the second consecutive season and he ranked second among NFL tight ends in receptions and third in receiving yards.

"The future around here is extremely bright," Olsen said. "That's pretty evident with the young influx of talent that came in last year, along with the seasoned vets we have to lead the way. Coach (Ron) Rivera and his staff, since they've been here, all we've done is improve and reach new levels. There's no reason why we can't continue to build like we have the last couple of years and reach our ultimate goal of reaching the Super Bowl."

Agent Drew Rosenhaus told Profootballtalk.com the deal was worth $22.5 million with $12 million to sign.

Olsen has played the last four seasons with Carolina after spending his first four with the Chicago Bears.

On the eve of training camp in 2011, the Panthers traded a third-round pick to the Bears for Olsen. He ranked third on the team in catches with 45 and receiving yards with 540 his first season in Carolina, combining with tight ends Jeremy Shockey and Richie Brockel for a then-team record of 1,008 receiving yards for the position group – a number he singlehandedly achieved this past season.

Olsen followed that with 69 catches for 843 yards in 2012 -- both team records for a tight end at the time -- then continued to trend upward with 73 catches for 816 yards in 2013.

In addition to being an outstanding receiver, Olsen's skill as a blocker means he rarely leaves the field.

Adding to the positives for Olsen, it appears Cam Newton, who missed last offseason following ankle surgery that led to a slow start last to the 2014 regular season, will hit the ground running -- literally -- this time around. That bodes well for Olsen, who even with the arrival of big-bodied wideout Kelvin Benjamin, remains Newton's most-trusted target.