New York Giants offensive tackle Nate Solder could be facing a career-altering decision in 2020. The long-time NFL left tackle will likely be asked to lay another position, probably right tackle as the Giants continue to upgrade their offensive line.
“I’ll do whatever it takes to be successful on this team,” Solder told the New York Post. “If they ask me to spin a hula hoop around my head, I’ll do that.”
Solder might have to. The 31-year-old’s 2019 performance has left many feeling as if he’s on the down-slope of his career. He can no longer handle the speed rush and with the team building around quarterback Daniel Jones, they’ll want a better player watching his blind side.
More from Ryan Dunleavy of The Post:
The Giants likely played their way out of drafting Ohio State pass-rusher Chase Young and into the territory in which offensive tackles Andrew Thomas (Georgia), Tristan Wirfs (Iowa), Jedrick Wills (Alabama) and Austin Jackson (USC) could be enticing options.
Wirfs and Wills are experienced right tackles who could slide into a spot likely vacated by one-year stopgap Mike Remmers. Thomas and Jackson are multi-year starters on the left side who could face a bigger learning curve.
“Some things translate over; some things you have to re-adjust your thinking,” Solder said of the positions. “It’s kind of like a right-handed person trying to write left-handed. You are not going to be as fluid and natural at it, but you can train yourself. You can do well and be successful.”
Solder is halfway through the ridiculous four-year, $62 million ($34.8 million guaranteed) deal that general manager Dave Gettleman signed him to after taking over the club in 2017.
The Giants are pretty much locked into Solder for 2020 with an unfriendly cap hit of $19.5 million ($20.5 million for 2021) and would absorb dead cap charges of $13 million this year and $6.5 million in 2021 if they released him.
Moving to Solder to right tackle is probably the right move but keep in mind, he’s still getting left tackle money. This is just another example of the Giants misallocating assets.
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