Chicago Bears potential cap casualty targets: Nate Solder
The Bears are going to make an improvement upfront. There is no doubt about that. First, they have to decide which one of their tackles will get the boot — or both. Charles Leno and Bobby Massie are both candidates to be released in order to save additional funds.
Massie may make the most sense after he’s had his last two seasons come to a close early due to injury. If the Bears were to cut Massie, they would save $5.4 million in the process.
Likewise, the New York Giants would save $6 million by moving on from starting tackle Nate Solder. If New York wanted to, they could slot last year’s rookie Andrew Thomas permanently into Solder’s regular left tackle spot.
Solder is on the wrong side of 30, but at one point he was Tom Brady’s blindside protector for seven seasons. He’s never made it to a Pro Bowl, but Solder has been a solid starting tackle for most of his career. In New York, it was clear he had taken a step backward. However, the Bears may think he’s better than Leno or Massie and jump on offering him a contract.