The Chicago Bears tipped their hand last month when they made a strong push to sign veteran offensive tackle Morgan Moses. It was the first indication they may not be entirely sold on their current options. At least not for this season. Teven Jenkins is somebody they really like but they don’t seem comfortable starting him at left tackle. A position he isn’t familiar with yet. Adding Moses and shifting him to that side was something they were hoping to accomplish.
It didn’t work. Now the team is left with their original plan of Jenkins at left tackle and Germain Ifedi on the right side. However, it may not be over yet. There are still some interesting tackle options available in free agency. Former Pro Bowlers Russell Okung and Mitchell Schwartz headline the list. Rick Wagner is another. Now according to Jordan Raanan of ESPN, another prominent name could join that mix in two-time Super Bowl champion Nate Solder
“Solder opted out last year and didn’t play particularly well the two years prior. And now it has been 18 months since the veteran offensive tackle has been in a full-contact practice or game. Who is to say his body can hold up at 33 years old after more than a year off? Or that he’s willing to go through the full grind to potentially be a backup for the first time since he was a freshman at Colorado? Only time will tell. Solder is competing this summer not only for the starting right tackle job with Matt Peart, but also a roster spot.”
Solder is in a tough spot.
Not only did he not play last year, but his contract is also a considerable burden for the Giants to carry. With Andrew Thomas settled in at left tackle and now Peart going after the right side? It makes little sense for the team to pay a possible backup $9.5 million. If he’s cut, then the Bears should consider adding him. He has a vast amount of experience at the left tackle spot and has a much better track record of health than Okung or Wagner.
The obvious question is would he be an upgrade over what the Bears had in Charles Leno and have in Jenkins? It’s a good question. Solder was solid in 2018. He was a quality run blocker who had one of his best seasons in pass protection. Then in 2019, things took a dip. Granted, some of that wasn’t his fault. Rookie QB Daniel Jones held the ball a lot, which led to unnecessary pressures and sacks while running back Saquon Barkley suffered health setbacks.
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Solder is worth the risk for Chicago Bears at the right price
While some may view his time off in 2020 as a problem due to rust, it could also be seen as a blessing in disguise. Older veterans like him have a lot of nagging injuries they tend to play through. Having a long year off like that actually offers them a chance to heal up and they can return fresher than they’ve been in years. Think back to Brian Urlacher in 2010. Having missed all of 2009 with his wrist injury, it actually gave the rest of his body a chance to recuperate.
The same could be said for Solder. Presuming he is released, the Chicago Bears should at least bring him in for a visit. His championship experience alone might be a worthwhile addition to the offensive line. One that features no player over the age of 28. Somebody like him could serve as an excellent mentor for a kid like Jenkins.
If nothing else, it is another option the Bears will have.
Much of this will come down to timing. It’s a safe bet the Giants aren’t going to cut Solder before training camp. Barring something unexpected, he will likely be one of the final cuts towards the end of August. That means the Bears would need to make a tough decision. Roll with Jenkins or take a gamble and bring in Solder to start immediately despite no prior knowledge of their blocking scheme.
