He’s a good solder.
Giant offensive tackle Nate Solder agreed to the framework of a restructured contract on Saturday, according to NFL Network, and is expected to rejoin the team after sitting out last season as a risky opt-out under COVID-19 protocols.
The Giants could not afford to keep 33-year-old Solder on his $ 16.5 million salary ceiling, given their budget constraints on the way to free choice and his uncertain role and level of performance going forward.
The details of Solder’s new deal are unknown, but it was intended to cut finances, so it would be about the same cost to keep the veteran around as it would to cut him back. If the Giants cut off Solder before June 1 or if he retired – as things seemed to be going before the last two weeks of internal discussions – the former $ 62 million free-agent splash would have cost $ 10.5 million against the limit and would have freed only $ 6 million.
Solder allowed the third most sacks (11) in the NFL in 2019, but admittedly suffered injuries and a difficult headroom when his son underwent surgery during the season to remove a cancerous tumor. Rookie first-round pick Andrew Thomas replaced Solder as the starting left tackle last season, and the Giants would be wise not to mess with Thomas’ development after finding a delayed late-season groove.
In that case, Solder will face Matt Peart – a third-round pick who made one start and played off the bench as a rookie in other games – in a good tackle. The league’s loser would likely become the swing tacker, crossing out a free agent need from the Giants’ long list.
Solder made 13 starts in a right tackle for the Patriots as a rookie in 2011, but moved to the other end of the line for the next 114 starts of his career. He was part of the Giants’ virtual OTAs last season, but his relationship with coach Joe Judge dates back to their shared years in New England, and Judge places high priority on the intimate knowledge of the character entering the locker room.