Suffice it to say, Sports Illustrated writer Peter King expects the market for Patriots free agent left tackle Nate Solder to be robust.
Writing in his weekly Monday Morning Quarterback, King said he believes Solder is the best non-quarterback in free agency and hence will be paid like the top-10 tackle that he is.
"The Patriots want him back," King wrote, "but Bill Belichick's history is to not pay vets of a certain age."
Solder turns 30 this season and has been in the league since 2011. King expects the Texans "will be all over Solder," because they traded left tackle Duane Brown to the Seahawks last October and don't have a draft pick until the third round. Solder represents their best hope of landing a starting tackle, and Solder has some familiarity with Texans head coach Bill O'Brien, who coached in New England during his rookie year.
Ultimately, however, King expects Solder to remain with the Patriots. He attributes that partly to the excellent care Solder's 2-year-old son, Hudson, has received while undergoing treatment for kidney cancer in Boston. But he also believes the Patriots will step up.
"I'm told Solder is wide open and will consider all options," King wrote. "But I'm also told the Patriots are being quite aggressive in their attempt to keep him. Gut feeling: Barring a crazy-money offer from the Giants or Texans (or a mystery team), which could happen, Solder returns to the Patriots. They know they need him more than any of their significant free agents, like Danny Amendola and Dion Lewis. "
