Nate Solder - Pro Football Rumors

Nate Solder Expects To Be Ready For Training Camp

June 22nd, 2019 at 9:34am CST by Ben Levine

Despite undergoing offseason ankle surgery, Giants lineman Nate Solder is expecting to be ready for training camp. The veteran left tackle told Ryan Dunleavy of NJ.com that there’s “no reason to think” he won’t be good to go by the end of July (Twitter link).

Solder had previously been dealing with bone spurs, and we learned in May that the lineman had underwent arthroscopic surgery to clean out his ankle. Fortunately, it wasn’t considered a “major surgery,” and the 31-year-old was expected to be recovered by early August. Solder’s accelerated timeline is good news for the Giants, as the offensive line allowed 47 sacks last season.

The former first-rounder joined the Giants last offseason after spending the first seven seasons of his career with the Patriots. His new four-year, $62 million contract ($35MM guaranteed) made him the NFL’s highest-paid lineman at the time, and Solder proceeded to award the team’s investment by starting all 16 games in 2018. Pro Football Focus ultimately ranked Solder 21st among 80 eligible offensive tackles.

If Solder needs a bit more time coming back, the Giants could turn to Brian Mihalik or Jylan Ware, or they could consider swapping right tackle Chad Wheeler to the left side of the offensive line. Either way, it sounds like the Giants will have their top lineman ready to go for the start of the regular season, although it’s uncertain if he’ll be protecting veteran Eli Manning or rookie Daniel Jones.

Giants OL Nate Solder Underwent Ankle Surgery

May 18th, 2019 at 11:31am CST by Ben Levine

A key Giants lineman is out until at least training camp. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo report that offensive tackle Nate Solder recently underwent arthroscopic surgery to clean out his ankle (via NFL.com’s Herbie Teope). The veteran had previously been dealing with bone spurs.

Fortunately for the Giants, Solder’s surgery wasn’t considered “major.” Rather, the lineman should be recovered by late July or early August. Of course, a setback means that the recovery time could bleed into the preseason. This isn’t ideal for an offensive line that allowed 47 sacks last season, regardless if the team has veteran Eli Manning or rookie Daniel Jones under center.

The former first-rounder joined the Giants last offseason after spending the first seven seasons of his career with the Patriots. His new four-year, $62 million contract ($35MM guaranteed) made him the NFL’s highest-paid lineman at the time, and Solder proceeded to award the team’s investment by starting all 16 games in 2018. Pro Football Focus ultimately ranked Solder 21st among 80 eligible offensive tackles.

If Solder were to miss considerable time, the Giants could turn to Brian Mihalik or Jylan Ware, or they could consider swapping right tackle Chad Wheeler to the left side of the offensive line. The coaching staff could even give a look at seventh-rounder George Asafo-Adjei.

NFC Notes: Manning, Solder, Bears, Seahawks

July 10th, 2018 at 7:05pm CST by Ben Levine

Bears offensive lineman Kyle Long has missed 14 total games over the past two seasons, and the three-time Pro Bowler underwent neck, shoulder and elbow surgeries this past offseason. Naturally, the 29-year-old was limited during his team’s OTAs last month. However, Long still found a way to help his fellow linemen.

“He really wants to be good,”said the team’s new offensive line coach, Harry Hiestand (via Colleen Kane of the Chicago Tribune). “He’s fun to be around. He comes in the meeting room every day with a smile on his face, looking forward to working. He’s very interested in helping the other guys. After I’ll say something, the meeting will break and they’ll be walking out to get a break and he’ll be talking out there with the young guys. That part’s been really good about him.”

The offensive guard is confident he’ll be good to go during training camp, and he’ll be hoping to improve a Bears line that allowed 39 sacks last season.

Let’s take a look at some more notes from around the NFC…

Following Kam Chancellor‘s unofficial retirement, Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times says the Seahawks will surely eye the free agent safety market, a grouping that includes Eric Reid, Kenny Vaccaro or Tre Boston. However, as the writer notes, the Seattle front office had anticipated Chancellor’s decision, and several of their offseason moves operated under the assumption that the veteran wouldn’t be with the team in 2018. The team currently has three starting-caliber safeties in Earl Thomas, Bradley McDougald and Maurice Alexander. Of course, as Condotta notes, if Thomas is traded or decides to hold out through the start of the regular season, the team will definitely need to add some depth at the position.
Instead of taking one of the highly-touted quarterback prospects, the Giants ended up opting for running back Saquon Barkley with the second-overall pick in this past year’s draft. Eli Manning recognized his team’s decision to not take his eventual replacement, and he’s aiming to prove their decision right. “It was kind of a vote of confidence in that they trusted in me that I can play at a high level, can win games, take us deep in playoffs and win championships and win championships still,” Manning said during an appearance on SiriusXM’s “The Opening Drive.” “And you know what? I want to prove them right and I want to make them look smart and make them to have made the right decision in doing that. I want to go out there and do great things, do my job and lead this team and make guys around me better and do what I’m supposed to do to put us in position to win those games.”
Manning also touched on his team’s addition of left tackle Nate Solder, who the Giants added on a four-year, $62MM deal this past offseason. “He knows how the offensive line is supposed to work together as a group,” Manning said. “He has them in there early, has them eating lunch together, has that (bond), (which) I always thought was most important with offensive line. It’s not having the five best players at each position. It’s having five guys that just work together. They communicate, they’ve got a toughness about them, they’ve got a pride in their job and being able to get that third-and-two, being able to run the ball, being able to pass protect and give us enough time and pick up the stunts and the blitzes. So I think he’s kind of bringing that attitude to this group.”

Flowers Upset About Giants’ Solder Signing?

May 5th, 2018 at 2:30pm CST by Sam Robinson

Ereck Flowers remains in south Florida training independently from the Giants, and teammate Landon Collins didn’t mince words when asked why the fourth-year tackle wasn’t with the team.

“He’s just unhappy that they picked up [Nate Solder],” Collins said during an appearance on WFAN (via SNY.tv). “That’s it.”

The Giants signed Solder to a landmark deal and gave him Flowers’ position, subsequently shuttling the disappointing former top-10 pick to right tackle. While right tackle was where the Giants drafted Flowers to play initially, he’s started three straight seasons on the left side. Only, the last one ended acrimoniously. And the Miami product has been on the trade block.

With Big Blue unable to swing a trade for Flowers during the draft, he remains on the roster. The Giants do not have immediate plans to waive Flowers.

Dave Gettleman has attempted to shake up the team’s embattled offensive line, signing Solder and Patrick Omameh and following those additions up with a second-round selection of Will Hernandez. Flowers, nonetheless, now plays a position at which the Giants are otherwise understaffed. Second-year UDFA Chad Wheeler (five starts last season) represents Flowers’ primary competition on the right side.

Pat Shurmur believed Flowers and he were on the same page regarding the position change, SNY.tv’s Ralph Vacchiano notes, but he’s the only Giant that’s been away from the team during the offseason period thus far. And he didn’t let the team know he’d be working out in Miami instead.

“Definitely, I would say he needs to be here, as a teammate and as a captain because we need him here, need to get the line together so they can be on the same page,” Collins said. “… Ereck is my boy. At the same time, he has a lot to learn, and at the same time he has to work harder.

“He came in last year, he thought he did what he needed to do — he lost weight, he was in proper shape, thought he played good in the first couple of games and just kind of went downhill when the season went downhill.”

The Giants passed on Flowers’ fifth-year option, and although the edge blocker cannot be fined for missing Giants offseason work until June’s minicamp, time could be running out for this relationship.

Giants To Sign OT Nate Solder

March 14th, 2018 at 9:44am CST by Zachary Links

The Giants are expected to sign former Patriots left tackle Nate Solder, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). It’s a four-year, $62MM deal which contains $32MM guarnateed, tweets Rapoport.

The Patriots have lost some key free agents already this week. Wide receiver Danny Amendola is signing with the rival Dolphins, running back Dion Lewis has fled to the Titans, and now Solder has inked a deal with the Giants. The Patriots expected that Solder’s market would get too expensive for their liking and a Lewis re-signing was far from certain, but few expected the Pats to lose all three notables to the open market.

Solder, for his part, drew plenty of interest around the league before signing with Big Blue. The Texans, who fielded one of the NFL’s worst offensive lines in 2017, were reportedly a finalist for Solder, while the Browns were also targeting the former Patriot. This year’s crop of free agent offensive tackles was extremely weak, so Solder unsurprisingly was in high demand.

The Giants, of course, currently have a former-first round pick — Ereck Flowers — at left tackle, but he’ll now presumably be moved to guard, traded, or cut. With Weston Richburg already out the door, and fellow free agent Justin Pugh possibly not far behind, it’s possible New York will need Flowers to play on the interior of its offensive line in 2018.

Solder isn’t exactly a world-beater, as he graded as the NFL’s No. 32 tackle in 2017, per Pro Football Focus. But he’s been extremely durable over the course of his seven-year career, and that availability is certainly worth something. Aside from a lost 2015 campaign, Solder has appeared in at least 15 games in every season of his NFL tenure.

Solder is now the highest-paid tackle in the league by a wide margin, as his $15.625MM annual average is more than $2MM above Trent Williams‘ annual salary. That’s a testament to Solder’s leverage as the only high-level free agent tackle available this spring. The Giants will get their franchise left tackle, but they’ll pay a hefty price.

The Patriots, meanwhile, don’t currently have a clear left tackle on their roster. Reserves Cameron Fleming and LaAdrian Waddle are both free agents, while 2017 draftee Antonio Garcia likely isn’t ready for a full-time role.

[RELATED: Giants Depth Chart]

Nate Solder Down To Giants Or Texans?

March 14th, 2018 at 8:34am CST by Zachary Links

Patriots left tackle Nate Solder probably won’t be a Patriot for long. It sounds like the free agent will be signing with either the Giants or Texans, based on what Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) has been hearing. There isn’t a “lot of optimism” about him staying put with Bill Belichick & Co., according to Rapoport.

Solder, one PFR’s top ten free agents, also had a serious suitor in the Browns just hours ago. However, after agreeing to terms with Donald Stephenson as well as Chris Hubbard, the Browns are no longer in aggressive pursuit of this year’s No. 1 free agent tackle.

The Giants desperately need to bolster their offensive line, making Solder one of their top targets this March. Ditto for the Texans. Houston agreed to sign Seantrel Henderson on Tuesday, but the former Bill can slide down to right tackle if necessary.

Solder is not expected to take any free agent visits, meaning that he could sign at any time.

Latest On Nate Solder’s Market

March 13th, 2018 at 6:32pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Left tackle Nate Solder is one of just three of PFR’s top 10 free agents that has yet to find a new contract, and his market appears fluid. Two teams that are reportedly in pursuit of Solder — the Browns and the Texans — have signed other offensive tackles today, but both clubs still appear to be in play for Solder.

Cleveland inked former Steelers swing tackle Chris Hubbard to a five-year deal, but the Browns are still interested in Solder, reports Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com (Twitter link). Franchise icon Joe Thomas hasn’t given Cleveland an indication as to whether he’ll retire, so it’s unclear exactly how many tackles the team needs. But Hubbard’s ability to play several positions means the Browns could land Solder to play left tackle and deploy Hubbard elsewhere, likely at right tackle.

Houston, meanwhile, signed Seantrel Henderson and are expected to give him a chance to win a starting job. But the Texans are still in on Solder, as well, tweets John McClain of the Houston Chronicle. Like Hubbard, Henderson can play right tackle, and given Houston’s porous offensive line, there is plenty of room for improvement.

Solder is not expected to take any free agent visits, according to Tom Curran of NBC Sports Boston (Twitter link), meaning he could conceivably sign at any time. The Giants are also reportedly targeting Solder, who has spent his entire career with the Patriots.

Giants Interested In OT Nate Solder

March 13th, 2018 at 4:13pm CST by Zachary Links

The Giants are among the teams with interest in tackle Nate Solder, according to Albert Breer of The MMQB (on Twitter). The Patriots free agent stands as the best available tackle in a weak market and figures to have a number of suitors.

The Giants are in serious need of offensive line help and have already missed out on top target Andrew Norwell. Their interest in retaining their own free agent lineman Justin Pugh is unclear, but in any case, Solder would represent a clear upgrade over him. Depending on how things shake out, a Solder signing wouldn’t necesarily preclude the Giants from re-signing Pugh, who can also offer help on the interior.

Solder, 30 in April, has been among the league’s better tackles since entering the league in 2011. Last year, Pro Football Focus graded him as the No. 32 tackle last season and he was in the top 20 in 2016. You could say 2017 was a down year for the veteran, but he was playing through injuries and figures to be better in 2018, if healthy.

Browns Interested In Several Big-Name FAs

March 12th, 2018 at 2:24pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Browns took on some more salary last week by adding Jarvis Landry and Tyrod Taylor, but the team is still loaded with cap space. And the John Dorsey-led operation plans to be active this week.

Nate Solder is on the Browns’ radar as a possible Joe Thomas replacement, Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com reports. While Thomas hasn’t announced his retirement, a decision on whether he will return in 2018 is expected soon.

Additionally, the trade for Damarious Randall won’t preclude Cleveland from seeking top-end cornerback talent. The Browns will pursue Bashaud Breeland, Cabot reports, and a Trumaine Johnson/Gregg Williams reunion could well be something the team considers.

The Browns are targeting big-name corners not just because they have a need for younger talent there but because they are going to play Randall as a free safety, per Cabot. Randall has not played safety yet in the NFL, but the Browns evidently view that as a worthwhile adjustment for their new defensive back.

Terrelle Pryor remains on the Browns’ radar, per Cabot. They’ve been linked to him this offseason and tried to reacquire him from the Redskins at the trade deadline last year. Hue Jackson remains a Pryor backer. Pryor’s market may not be what it was a year ago, however, after a rough season in Washington. Cabot adds that agent Drew Rosenhaus didn’t think it was wise for Pryor to be tied down at $8.5-$9.5MM per year. It would be incredibly surprising if Pryor signs for around that amount this year.

Cabot adds the Browns will likely go after Allen Robinson and Sammy Watkins as well. Robinson is a top Browns target, per Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports.

Texans Pursuing LT Nate Solder

March 12th, 2018 at 1:17pm CST by Zachary Links

The Texans are making a strong run at left tackle Nate Solder, according to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle (on Twitter). The Texans started five different left tackles in 2017, so they are anxious to plug the hole with a capable player like Solder.

If the Texans are intent on landing Solder, they’ll have to pony up some serious bucks. The veteran ranks fifth on our list of this year’s Top 50 NFL Free Agents.

Solder didn’t have his best season in 2017, but much of that can be attributed to injuries. The incumbent Patriots would like to re-sign him, but the belief is that he’ll garner offers of $12MM/year, which could be too rich for New England’s blood.

The Texans created an opening at left tackle after trading four-time Pro Bowler Duane Brown to the Seahawks last season. That need is compounded by the fact that Chris Clark, who played in 10 games at left tackle last year, starting eight, is set to become an unrestricted free agent. Left guard Xavier Su’a-Filo is also due to become a free agent.

Solder, 29, has consistently rated as an above-average tackle since the Patriots selected him 17th overall in 2011. Pro Football Focus graded him as the No. 32 tackle last season and he was in the top 20 the year prior. Solder has appeared in at least 15 games in six of his first seven seasons in the league and would certainly provide protection to the blindside of Deshaun Watson, who’ll be coming off his ACL injury.