Keep or Trade Nate Solder?

Pay the man

Nate Solder is not the best LT in the NFL he's good at times never great but at 27 years old what's not to like? I like his up side him being in his prime, you have to think he will only get better.

Groy is a depth/developmental/practice squad type of addition, causing no ripple effect whatsoever on Solder. With uncertainties at starting G spots, the LAST thing I'd want to do is add uncertainties at a T spot. It would require some monstrous performances by Cannon or Fleming for a sustained amount of time. Not hearing it, or even imagining it.

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?

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I voted why he stays.

Patsbacker said:

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

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....also a potential scenario.

If gone its $4m in dead money in 2015 and $2m in 2016 but save $4.4m in 2016

When is his $1.97m roster bonus due?

EDIT: looks like they pay part of the bonus based on % of snaps,on the roster, etc. haven't found it spelled out cleanly anywhere.

Palm Beach Pats Fan said:

Groy is a depth/developmental/practice squad type of addition, causing no ripple effect whatsoever on Solder. With uncertainties at starting G spots, the LAST thing I'd want to do is add uncertainties at a T spot. It would require some monstrous performances by Cannon or Fleming for a sustained amount of time. Not hearing it, or even imagining it.

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Right. If Tre starts next to Solder and Stork he is in a good spot.

If he starts next to say Cannon...that left side is VERY inexperienced.

If it's not broke, don't fix it. This would appear particularly true at left tackle.

Palm Beach Pats Fan said:

Groy is a depth/developmental/practice squad type of addition, causing no ripple effect whatsoever on Solder. With uncertainties at starting G spots, the LAST thing I'd want to do is add uncertainties at a T spot. It would require some monstrous performances by Cannon or Fleming for a sustained amount of time. Not hearing it, or even imagining it.

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Groy may be your starting LG

robertweathers said:

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.

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San Diego game he was absolutely horific but he was very good for the most part in the playoffs. Most of us were scared of what Suggs was going to do to him and he kept horseface quiet for the most part.

robertweathers said:

Groy may be your starting RG.

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Isn't Jackson pretty much penciled in at RG at this point?

You can bet he will be traded when Pats pick a left tackle early in the draft, maybe in 2 or 3 years.

Oswlek said:

Isn't Jackson pretty much penciled in at RG at this point?

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I know that Wendell is injured, but I don't think that he is out for the year.

So, the answer is "no".

Tony2046 said:

I'll start by saying that I am not a lawyer.

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That is damn funny

reneluar said:

You can bet he will be traded when Pats pick a left tackle early in the draft, maybe in 2 or 3 years.

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Solder will be a free agent after the 2015 season.

We will need a LT to protect Brady in 2016. As far as using the draft to fill that position, I would have thought that 2015 would have been the right year, so that the LT could have a year before he was the #2 most important player on the offense.

Unless Solder is extended during the year, this will be our top priority for the next offseason.

As it is the options will be

OPTION ONE - Sign a veteran who could be Solder
OPTION TWO - Trade for a top veteran
OPTION THREE - Trade for a mid-level veteran
OPTION FOUR - Draft a LT
OPTION FIVE - Start one our current players at LT (perhaps Vollmer)

mgteich said:

I know that Wendell is injured, but I don't think that he is out for the year.

So, the answer is "no".

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I have to admit that I'd completely forgotten about Wendell, so thanks. That said, it still seems highly likely to me that, if the plan is for Jackson to start it will be at RG. Continuity of college position, continuity of college teammate, plus that's all he's been doing in camp to date which has forced another college RG out of position.

Maybe I'm misreading the tea leaves, but it appears to me that they think he's the more NFL ready rookie and, since they've always known one might have to start, you'd expect that player to be slotted into the open position.

robertweathers said:

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?

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1st round picks Mankins & Seymour say Hi!

PatsWickedPissah said:

1st round picks Mankins & Seymour say Hi!

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How OLD were these two players when they were moved? As has been said more than once, one issue is age.

Keep. Plus LTs are really hard to find. He only has one basic flaw - sometimes he's slow to the outside on pass blocking and can get levered. And even that improved as the season progressed.

mgteich said:

How OLD were these two players when they were moved? As has been said more than once, one issue is age.

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Does the word "never" confound you?

Oswlek said:

Isn't Jackson pretty much penciled in at RG at this point?

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I suck today. First Butler not starting last year today and the club on Jackson projecting at RG.

Time for a beer.