When looking back at the 2019 regular season, it’s difficult to find reasons for optimism if you’re a member of the New York Giants. After all, the team finished 4-12, fired their head coach yet again, tied a franchise-worst losing streak and saw their home attendance drop significantly.
It was a season full of disappointments, which makes crowning one letdown worse than the other a difficult task. But Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report managed to do it.
And wouldn’t you know it, struggling left tackle Nate Solder drew the honor of being named the Giants’ biggest disappointment.
Offensive Tackle Nate Solder
With the New York Giants picking in the top five of the 2020 NFL draft, there’s been some speculation that the team might look to add one of this year’s top tackle prospects. As Ryan Dunleavy reported for the New York Post, Nate Solder said he’d be willing to move to the other side of the offensive line if it will help the team.
“I’ll do whatever it takes to be successful on this team,” Solder said. “If they ask me to spin a hula hoop around my head, I’ll do that.”
It’s an idea that might actually appeal to Giants brass, but not for the reason you might think.
Leaving Solder on Daniel Jones’ blind side might get the youngster killed.
Simply put, Solder’s been a disaster in the two seasons since he joined the G-Men on a four-year, $62 million contract in 2018. He’s been arguably the worst player on an offensive line that ranked in the bottom half of the league in both run blocking and pass protection, per Football Outsiders.
Solder has certainly under-performed and he’s never shied away from that. A year ago, he was hampered by serious injuries and this season, his mind was in a different place due to his son’s battle with illness.
In a what have you done for me lately league, those reasons do not suffice — that’s just the way it is. And to that point, yes, Solder has been extremely disappointing.
We’ll see if the Giants move Solder to right tackle in 2020, but one thing is for certain, he can not be trusted to protect Daniel Jones’ blindside any longer.
[lawrence-related id=637611,637598,637584]