SPARTANBURG The Carolina Panthers have had exactly one consistent pass-catching threat at tight end during their 16-year history. Wesley Walls used to make the Pro Bowl every year, catching balls he had no business catching.

It's very early, but new Panthers tight end Greg Olsen reminds me a little of Walls.

Olsen might not even start regularly this season. Jeremy Shockey and Ben Hartsock also are in the mix as Carolina has totally overhauled a position John Fox never set too much stock in during his tenure.

But I'd wager Olsen is about to make a major impact for Carolina, and that its trade for him last week (giving Chicago a reported third-round pick) will end up being one of the most significant moves of that frantic few days. The Panthers have signed Olsen, 26, to a contract extension that ensures he will have years to bond with quarterbacks Cam Newton and Jimmy Clausen, who will find out quickly that Olsen and his great hands make for a fine safety valve.

"You're kind of a security blanket," Olsen said of the tight end's role. "That's something we hope we can build - that relationship and trust - so the quarterback can lean on us."

In four years at Chicago, Olsen was good for about 50 catches, 500 yards and five touchdowns per season. Those numbers dwarf what the Panthers' tight ends have averaged since Walls retired, but that's in part because Fox mostly used his tight ends as a sixth offensive lineman.

Olsen was phased out of Chicago's offense to some extent last season, but he still had far better statistics than any of Carolina's tight ends. I watched him work on the football passing machine Friday night, and the way he caught balls one-handed, with so little effort, made me think of Walls again.

Olsen didn't know he was going to be traded - he had reported to Chicago's training camp, checked in and was preparing for another season with the Bears.

"Definitely surprised," Olsen said. "But I'm happy the way it worked out. A couple years back, coming out for the draft (in 2007), this was a place I had hoped to end up."

Panthers receiver Steve Smith had wanted Olsen back then, too. Although the two had not met until three days ago, Smith is so high on Olsen he said he believes if Olsen (6-foot-5, 255 pounds) lost a little weight that the tight end could play receiver in the NFL.

Panthers coach Ron Rivera has made no secret of the fact he wants to use tight ends much like San Diego, Rivera's former employer, uses Antonio Gates. Offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski is charged with making that happen, and Olsen said "constant change" has become a way of life at this training camp.

"Everything you hear," Olsen said, "it's the first time you're hearing it. Each day you show up, there's a new wrinkle. There's a new install sheet. That makes it fun to show up."

Although Olsen and Rivera have both worked for the Bears, they didn't overlap. Rivera left just before Olsen became the Bears' first-round draft pick, in 2007. But Olsen got word from some of the Chicago old-timers about Rivera once the trade was announced.

"When guys found out I was being traded out here, the guys in Chicago, the first thing they all said is you're going to love coach Rivera," Olsen said. "He's not going to take any nonsense, but he's going to be a good, fair coach. You're going to respect him."

Shockey signed months before Olsen and now faces competition from his younger teammate, but said he welcomes it and was happy when Olsen was acquired.

"I've always been a fan of Greg's," Shockey said. "You can't get enough of guys like that. He's a hard-working guy, he deserves everything he's gotten and I'm excited to play with another University of Miami product."

Both men have made their teammates take notice.

"I've heard a lot for eight years from fans about how we've never had a fun tight end to watch," Panthers offensive tackle Jordan Gross said. "Well, we've gotten our wish now."