The Giants might not be able to finish off Nate Solder, after all.
There is a growing feeling that a deal can and will be worked out to keep the offensive offensive veteran on the list. Solder would stay for a very low price, as he had to be given $ 16.5 million for the salary cap, a cost that is unsustainable for Solder to continue his career with the Giants.
Solder turns 33 next month. He chose not to participate in the 2020 season, citing the concerns of COVID-19, as his young son is in cancer treatment and Solder himself is a cancer survivor. Andrew Thomas, No. 4 in the 2020 NFL Draft, took Solder’s place and started 15 of 16 games on the left.
If Solder returns, he will not be Thomas’ replacement. Solder would probably compete for the right job (second year, Matt Peart is an option here) and possibly serve as a swing apparatus, providing experienced insurance on both sides of the line. Solder, however, has not played the right attack since his 2011 debut year with the Patriots. Head coach Joe Judge has shown he believes in the rotation of his offensive liners.
Highly paid veterans who don’t play at an extremely high level are an endangered species this year, with the NFL salary cap set at $ 182.5 million, very low from $ 198.2 million in 2020. On Wednesday, the Giants met the limit by launching a $ 12 million space cap with the release of 31-year-old guard Kevin Zeitler.
Solder the same day Zeitler was released published an article he wrote for “The Increase,” in which he said, “I’m in a place where, if I’m offered another chance to play football, I’ll probably I’ll take it. ” Most likely the warning referred to uncertainty as to whether the new financial terms needed to keep Solder on the list would be acceptable to him or would be too serious to move forward with the Giants.
Upon deactivation, Solder lost $ 9.9 million in salary in 2020, although he received a $ 3 million list bonus, and was paid $ 350,000 as a high-exclusion option. risk. Soldier acknowledged this when he wrote, “The amount of revenue I lost from not playing for a season was significant.”
Solder will not return unless he feels compensated. He signed a four-year, $ 62 million contract, with $ 34.8 million guaranteed, and started all 16 games in 2018 and 2019. His game in both seasons didn’t live up to the he set. with the Patriots the first seven years of his career.