Solder isn’t worth that kind of money. Also, this likely nets the Patriots a 3rd round compensatory pick for next year because even if they make a splash they likely only sign one big ticket free agent. They lost two. Hate to see him go especially given the other names at tackle left (or left tackle heh).
Nate Solder is going to be the new highest-paid left tackle in the league with this deal from the Giants. Waiting on exact numbers.
Huge loss yes but the he isn't worth being the top LT in league. SorryThis is a huge loss. There's not much on the open market other than re-signing Waddle.
Previous high in GTD money for a LT was Trent Williams at $30M. Good for him. Glad the Pats didn't match.
He couldn't be franchised as per a clause in his previous contractIn hindsight, will the Pats wish they had just used the franchise tag on Solder at $14mn? Best case was probably bringing him back at a small raise to his $11mn 2017 number, so it’s not like $14mn is an insane number...
I think leave Cannon where he is, re-sign Waddle, draft a guy, and hope that between Waddle / draftee / Garcia they put something together.Well this is the first FA loss that I think is really going to hurt. Cannon to LT?
Didn’t realize that, although I guess any time I think I’m being smarter than BB, I should just assume there’s a piece of information I’m missing...He couldn't be franchised as per a clause in his previous contract
I think Barkley goes #1 overall to Cleveland.Feels like the Giants are pushing to go all in for Eli’s last hurrah. Saquon Barkley seems more and more likely now.
He already is signing with the Browns.Expect NEP to kick the tires on Hubbard.
Cannon and then Vollmer.Who played LT when Solder was out for most of the year a few years ago?
Didn't know that, kind of bittersweet, He's Munchak-trained and starter quality so he'll get paid, but Browns..He already is signing with the Browns.
Yeah there is some silly money being thrown around. At least Solder is a good player, which is more that can be said for some of the bizarre contracts being handed out. Giants will still have to get some surplus value in other places, because they'll never get it from this contract.The market has lost its mind on a bunch of these signings. Good for the players but a lot of bad contracts
Second these sentiments. He will be missed, but I’m glad the Pats didn’t resign him if he’s about to become the highest paid left tackle in the league. Let others make poor investments. Stay the course.Glad the Patriots didn't resign him if they are making the highest paid LT in the league. He's never been an all-pro or even to a pro bowl for that matter. Good player not great player.
Which would be crazy, because the last time Eli was a (just barely) better than average QB was 2013.Feels like the Giants are pushing to go all in for Eli’s last hurrah. Saquon Barkley seems more and more likely now.
I'm not a cap guy, but one has to wonder if signing Solder to this contract, might be a sign that OBJ might not get his $20M per from the Giants.Yeah there is some silly money being thrown around. At least Solder is a good player, which is more that can be said for some of the bizarre contracts being handed out. Giants will still have to get some surplus value in other places, because they'll never get it from this contract.
YIKES! Good for him and his family.
I would not be shocked if they deal him. This Giants offseason has two themes — Kiss and make up with Eli; rip out a rancid team culture root and branch.I'm not a cap guy, but one has to wonder if signing Solder to this contract, might be a sign that OBJ might not get his $20M per from the Giants.
A handful of teams have too much space and the CBA has cash spending requirements which is creating some artificial pressure on contracts. That's my theory.YIKES! Good for him and his family.
Question: is it that there are some really bad contracts being handed or has the market changed altogether? Or both?
Yeah except Solder is more like 8th or 10th best.With the cap going up and dearth of quality left tackles that is a reasonable deal for Solder. Comparing top of market deals with previous seasons is silly. The best tackle on the market next year will get more likely then the year after again, it's generally how the market works for premium positions
On the other hand, if you don't have a competent LT playing for you, all the money spent on the rest of your payroll is in jeopardy of being largely wasted. LT is one of the few keystone positions on the field.Fair. Doesn't make it smart though
Thuney was rated by Pro Football Focus as the best pass blocking tackle in college during his senior season at NC State. I wonder how much of this was Brissett's scrambling ability but I'm sure PFF utilized a filter to include this in their scoring.This seems like a typical Belichick "against the grain" move which is what I expect here.I think leave Cannon where he is, re-sign Waddle, draft a guy, and hope that between Waddle / draftee / Garcia they put something together.
The other option that intrigues me is kicking Thuney outside. He played LT in college. His arms are very short for an NFL T but he's got great feet and this also gets him away from a bunch of 300-pounders inside. Not sure they would do this, but I studied cheap options at LT for ITP a couple years back and one of the common threads was shorter / shorter-arm guys.