The Patriots just lost one of their biggest difference makers

By Joe Setyon March 14, 2018 at 9:45am

For 7 years and more than 90 games, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was the beneficiary of excellent blindside protection in the form of left tackle Nate Solder.

But when the 2018 regular season rolls around, that will no longer be the case.

Solder, 29, has reportedly agreed to terms with the New York Giants on a 4-year contract worth $62 million, $35 million of which is guaranteed.

Once the deal is officially signed, Solder will become the highest paid offensive lineman in the league, according to NFL.com‘s Ian Rapoport.

The #Giants are signing LT Nate Solder to a 4-year deal worth $62M, source said, with $35M guaranteed. The highest paid OL in the NFL. 💰💰💰

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 14, 2018

As noted by ESPN, it’s a big loss for the Patriots, who now are left with a sizable hole at left tackle.

What’s more, Solder was, by all accounts, an excellent locker room presence and an all-around good person. Last season, he was the team’s nominee for Walter Payton Man of the Year.

But the Patriots’ loss seems to be the Giants gain.

Last season, New York had one of the worst offensive lines in football, allowing quarterback Eli Manning to be sacked 27 times, which was fourth-worst in the league.

Part of the problem was incumbent left tackle Ereck Flowers, a former first-round pick who has yet to live up to his potential. With Solder on the team, the Giants have the option to either trade Flowers, cut him or have him switch positions.

Did the Patriots make the right move by letting Solder walk?

Regardless, despite the high price tag, signing Solder was an important move for the Giants, especially after it was revealed Tuesday that All-Pro left guard Andrew Norwell planned to sign with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Solder, who was drafted in the first round of the 2011 draft out of Colorado, has played in New England for his entire career. He has four Super Bowl appearances on his résumé.

Solder was invited to the Pro Bowl this past season, but he did not play because the Patriots were preparing to face the Eagles in the Super Bowl.

Going into free agency, it was believed that one of Solder’s main focuses would be landing in a spot with excellent hospitals that would be able to treat his son, who has kidney cancer.

“Nate is someone of the highest character. We all respect Nate for what he has done with Hudson and how he is always there for him,” Patriots coach Bill Belichick once said.

In addition to his son’s health issues, Solder himself has overcome testicular cancer.

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Joe Setyon

Deputy Managing Editor, Editorial

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Joe Setyon was a deputy managing editor for The Western Journal who had spent his entire professional career in editing and reporting. He previously worked in Washington, D.C., as an assistant editor/reporter for Reason magazine.

@JoeSetyon

Joe Setyon was deputy managing editor for The Western Journal with several years of copy editing and reporting experience. He graduated with a degree in communication studies from Grove City College, where he served as managing editor of the student-run newspaper. Joe previously worked as an assistant editor/reporter for Reason magazine, a libertarian publication in Washington, D.C., where he covered politics and wrote about government waste and abuse.

Birthplace

Brooklyn, New York

Topics of Expertise

Sports, Politics