Keep or Trade Nate Solder?

With the trade for Ryan Groy and learning that he has played a little LT at U of Wis, it got me thinking a little about the Nate Solder situation.

Throwing out some pros and cons...

Why He Goes:

• Hes owed ~$7.4m 2015. Could free up space/carry over to 2016/ get someone extended/trade for top CB
• His performance overall has been very good- not elite and not at Matt Light level
• Pats have Vollmer, Cannon and Fleming at the T spots.
• The team has major decisions to make on C.Jones, HT and Collins. Can you afford a long term deal for Solder as well? See 1st bullet
• Recoup a high pick in 2016 thanks to Der Fuher.

Why He Stays:

• Only 27.
• BB never moves 1st rd picks
• It is unknown if Cannon or anyone on the current roster can play LT at a solid level.
  
• Paying a starting LT ~$7-8m a year is not bad at all.
• Trade you starting LT?? Protects the 38 year old GoAT's blind side? Are you nuts??

BTW- Mankins was traded Aug 26th so we are approaching trading season.

Thoughts?

BB is always playing tricks on us (Mankins, for instance). So who knows what he'll do !?

However, the OL coach praised Solder to the max the last time he spoke of Nate. LTs are extremely important. And even though there is lotsa cash there - less than 8M isn't unreasonable for a LT you trust.

I don't think the comparison to Mankins, who was 32 last summer, is apt. The difference is all in the age: Solder can be reasonably projected to have several "peak" years left, while Mankins' play had already begun to show signs that he was wearing down.

Considering the context of the market involved, I think Solder is reasonably compensated for his position and experience. So I doubt very much he gets traded, barring a stunning offer.

For a first, absolutely yes no question. For a second, I'd sleep on it. Not for anything less.

Trade you starting LT?? Protects the 38 year old GOAT's blind side? Are you nuts??

Next to QB, LOT is the most important position on an NFL Offense. Are You daft?

I'll start by saying that I am not a lawyer. Oh wait, this is a football discussion.

Personally, I get nervous when they start trading out experience/stability for new younger guys. I can't and won't argue with BB but I would hate to lose a decent guy on the OL especially after last year.

I would agree that Solder hasn't been a top 2-3 LT, but I reject the notion that Matt Light was better.

Pay the man.

Trade, im tired of this tradition of winning super bowls.

Oswlek said:

I would agree that Solder hasn't been a top 2-3 LT, but I reject the notion that Matt Light was better.

Pay the man.

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Solder better than Light? Not seeing it.

robertweathers said:

Solder better than Light? Not seeing it.

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No, about the same. For as much as we all loved Matt, he was prone to having 2-3 clunkers a year where Schoebel or Taylor just ate him up. And it wasn't just those guys. Granted, Light never had a four game stretch anywhere near as bad as Solder's last September, but aside from that Nate's been damn good.

Heading into the 2014 season, can you recall a single person saying his option was anything but a layup?

Oswlek said:

No, about the same. For as much as we all loved Matt, he was prone to having 2-3 clunkers a year where Schoebel or Taylor just ate him up. And it wasn't just those guys. Granted, Light never had a four game stretch anywhere near as bad as Solder's last September, but aside from that Nate's been damn good.

Heading into the 2014 season, can you recall a single person saying his option was anything but a layup?

Click to expand...

And if you remember the five fingers, one hand metaphor, it doesn't help your thumb if your index finger doesn't know WTF it's supposed to be doing.

robertweathers said:

With the trade for Ryan Groy and learning that he has played a little LT at U of Wis, it got me thinking a little about the Nate Solder situation.

Throwing out some pros and cons...

Why He Goes:

• Hes owed ~$7.4m 2015. Could free up space/carry over to 2016/ get someone extended/trade for top CB
• His performance overall has been very good- not elite and not at Matt Light level
• Pats have Vollmer, Cannon and Fleming at the T spots.
• The team has major decisions to make on C.Jones, HT and Collins. Can you afford a long term deal for Solder as well? See 1st bullet
• Recoup a high pick in 2016 thanks to Der Fuher.

Why He Stays:

• Only 27.
• BB never moves 1st rd picks
• It is unknown if Cannon or anyone on the current roster can play LT at a solid level.
  
• Paying a starting LT ~$7-8m a year is not bad at all.
• Trade you starting LT?? Protects the 38 year old GoAT's blind side? Are you nuts??

BTW- Mankins was traded Aug 26th so we are approaching trading season.

Thoughts?

Click to expand...

Considering he played well enough for them to win the SB while undergoing treatment for testicular cancer, he stays.

As for recouping a high pick, I'm sure Goodell will find a way to take it away.

ctpatsfan77 said:

And if you remember the five fingers, one hand metaphor, it doesn't help your thumb if your index finger doesn't know WTF it's supposed to be doing.

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Yeah, there are plenty of reasonable explanations for Solder's September, but I was too lazy to go into it.

Oswlek said:

Yeah, there are plenty of reasonable explanations for Solder's September, but I was too lazy to go into it.

Click to expand...

I'll take another September if it brings us back to another February.

Oswlek said:

No, about the same. For as much as we all loved Matt, he was prone to having 2-3 clunkers a year where Schoebel or Taylor just ate him up. And it wasn't just those guys. Granted, Light never had a four game stretch anywhere near as bad as Solder's last September, but aside from that Nate's been damn good.

Heading into the 2014 season, can you recall a single person saying his option was anything but a layup?

Click to expand...

I agree that Nate has been very good since he started full time in 2012 and has been very dependable. The instability at LG early in the season really hurt him. Once that got sorted out he was very good.

Light did have some clunkers no question. All LTs do. He was a rock.

Poll poll poll poll!

Keep. We don't need the money for Hightower, Jones or Collins until after this season so I don't see much upside in trading him (multiple high picks including a first rounder might persuade me) and plenty of downside because there's no-one to step into his shoes.

robertweathers said:

Light did have some clunkers no question. All LTs do. He was a rock.

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Agreed. I point out Light's clunkers not to drag him down, but to reframe the expectations for Solder.

Vollmer I think would be the one to be traded...clears cap room (he's older) and might shift Flemming or Cannon to RT.