The Giants are on track to have Nate Solder back for the 2021 season. They are finalizing a reworked deal for the veteran left tackle, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter).
Solder opted out of last season but expressed a desire to play in 2021. The 6-foot-8 tackle is attached to a $16.5MM cap number, after his contract tolled from 2020. That number will be coming down.
This process has been in the works for a bit now. Despite the Giants’ big-ticket free agency deal with Solder not working out to their liking, the former first-round pick would have cost the team $10.5MM in dead money to release. (A post-June 1 cut would have been in play as well, given the circumstances.) The team just used its franchise tag on Leonard Williams for the second straight year, and Dalvin Tomlinson remains in the picture to be re-signed. Carrying a $16.5MM cap figure for a middling tackle would be an impediment to the Giants’ free agency plans.
It will now be interesting to see how the Giants configure their offensive line. They used 2020 No. 4 overall pick Andrew Thomas at Solder’s left tackle position last season. Prior to Solder’s opt-out decision, the tentative Big Blue plan was for Thomas to begin his career at right tackle during what was expected to be Solder’s final year as a Giant. Solder played right tackle as a rookie with the Patriots but has spent the bulk of his career on the left side.
New York worked in third-round pick Matt Peart at right tackle for stretches last season; the UConn product played 15% of the Giants’ offensive snaps in 2020. It is certainly possible Peart continues to be a contributor, but Solder returning would place the second-year blocker on track to be a backup again.
Nate Solder..giants fan, we’re saved!!! Hope Jones wears extra padding next year.
More like join a witness protection program.
As long as the cap hit is considerably lower I don’t mind this move. Had we cut him and saved the $10mm, we still would have needed to sign a veteran swing tackle tobackup and that would have cost in the $5mm range. So if the savings is in the $8mm range I’m good with it.