When the New York Giants are put on the clock next week at the 2020 NFL Draft, expectations are that they will select one of the top four offensive tackle prospects available — Andrew Thomas, Jedrick Wills Jr., Tristan Wirfs of Mekhi Becton.
That remains highly plausible, but the lingering question is whether or not they’re looking for one of those players to serve as the left tackle or the right tackle.
During his pre-draft conference call earlier this week, general manager Dave Gettleman balked at the idea of moving veteran Nate Solder to the right side, instead stating that he will have the opportunity to compete on the left side.
“Everybody has to compete. Again, my thought process is we’re not afraid to have too many good players at one position to answer your question. Joe knows Nate which is helpful. They have a relationship, they have a history. But we’re going to bring in the best players. If they’re at a position where there’s an incumbent starter, then he’s going to compete,” Gettleman said.
Former Giants center Shaun O’Hara takes no issue with this line of thinking, doubling-down on Gettleman’s assessment of Solder, going as far as to suggest the veteran’s best football is still ahead of him.
“I still think Nate Solder has some good football left, and I am not just talking about one year,” O’Hara said, via Giants.com. “He could play another two or three years and you could keep a guy at right tackle. . . I think some of his best football is still in him.”
O’Hara isn’t the only one who believes this, either. Retired Giants offensive lineman David Diehl concurred with his former teammate.
“I agree,” Diehl said.
Solder is entering the third year of his four-year deal and the Giants appear to be embracing his stay on the left side. And at least in the eyes of O’Hara and Diehl, that’s a good decision and one that will pay dividends for the team.
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