The Giants may not be done with Nate Solder.
There is a growing sentiment that an agreement can be worked out to keep the veteran offensive tackle on the list. Solder will remain at a much lower price, as he will add $ 16.5 million to the salary cap – a cost that Solder cannot sustain to continue his career with the Giants.
Solder will turn 33 next month. He chose the 2020 season, referring to COVID-19, as his young son is undergoing cancer treatment and Solder himself is a cancer survivor. Andrew Thomas, the number 4 pick in the NFL draft in 2020, got Solder’s place and started 15 of the 16 games on the left.
If Solder returns, it’s not Thomas’ replacement. Solder will likely compete for the right packing work – sophomore Matt Peart is an option here – and possibly serve as a swing pack and offer experienced insurance on both sides of the line. However, Solder has not played the right suit since his starting year with the Patriots in 2011. Head coach Joe Judge has shown that he believes he is turning his offensive lineouts.
High-paying veterans who do not play at an extremely high level are an endangered species this year, with the NFL salary cap at $ 182.5 million, far from $ 198.2 million in 2020. cap space with the release of the 31 -year-old Kevin Zeitler.
Soldering the same day that Zeitler was released, he posted an article he wrote for ‘The Increase’ in which he said, ‘I’m in a place now where I’m getting a chance to play football again.’ The likely warning likely referred to uncertainty as to whether the new financial terms to keep Solder in the rankings would be acceptable to him or too severe to continue with the Giants.
With the opt-out, Solder forfeited $ 9.9 million in salary in 2020, although he did receive a $ 3 million grid bonus – and $ 350,000 was paid as a high-risk opt-out. Soldier admitted this when he wrote: “The amount of income I lost by not playing a season was significant.”
Solder will only return if he feels he is being fairly reimbursed. He signed a $ 62 million four-year contract, with $ 34.8 million guaranteed money, and started all 16 games in 2018 and 2019. His game both seasons was not up to the standard he set for the first seven years of his career with the Patriots. .