Nate Solder plans to play next year. The question is: will it be with the Giants?
Big Blue’s offensive tackle told ESPN.com as long as the situation makes sense, he will return after sitting out last year due to COVID-19 concerns. Solder has yet to speak to the Giants about his future, but plans to do so soon.
Solder’s future with the Giants likely depends on if he is willing to restructure his contract. NFL Network reported the Giants are planning to approach him about doing so.
Solder, a two-time Super Bowl champion with the Patriots who has played two years with the Giants, is due to make $10 million next year with a $16.5 million cap hit. The Giants could save up to $10 million by cutting Solder.
The Giants drafted two offensive tackles, Andrew Thomas and Matt Peart, last year. Peart is expected to compete for the right tackle job with last year’s starter, Cameron Fleming, a free agent.
The 32-year-old Solder decided against playing due to health concerns with his family. His son Hudson had surgery to remove a Wilms tumor on his kidney in 2019, and he had a newborn child as well. Cancer survivors are more susceptible to the virus.
“It was a traumatic, hard time for us, and I couldn’t find a good reason to play this year,” Solder told The Post’s Ryan Dunleavy in December. “There are going to be things on the plate for next year, and I want to be prepared. I’m getting my mind right because it’s so critical with so much anxiety with the pandemic and family and football.”
