Nate Solder recently re-set the market for top left tackles when he signed a four-year $62MM deal with the Giants back in March. The next player to threaten Solder’s spot as the highest paid tackle in the game might be the Titans’ Taylor Lewan, set to be a free agent after this season.
Lewan is playing 2018 in the final year of his rookie deal after the Titans exercised his fifth-year option. He’ll earn a $9.34MM salary this year which is most likely well below what he’ll command on the open market.
Lewan spoke with the media recently, and gave an update on talks, or lack thereof, with Titans management regarding a new contract, via Terry McCormick of Titaninsider.com. Lewan said there was “nothing worth talking about” when asked about the status of any negotiations.
While Lewan said there hasn’t been much progress recently, he isn’t sweating it, and is instead staying focuses on football. He has no plans to holdout or miss any time due to contract concerns, saying “When it comes to this kind of stuff, that’s why I have an agent. I don’t give them three percent to sit on their (expletive). I’m being serious.”
Lewan also said he’d be willing to negotiate during the season if nothing gets done this offseason. He even specifically referenced Solder, making it clear he knows his own worth, saying “I’m a professional athlete. Obviously you’re going to see those things. I see Nate Solder getting the contract he did. That’s awesome.”
Whether or not an extension gets done this summer, Lewan will sooner or later be one of the highest paid linemen in football. He’s racked up accolades since entering the league as the 11th pick in the 2014 draft, earning two Pro Bowl selections. Whether it’s by the Titans or someone else, Lewan will be getting paid next year, and he could very well best Solder’s $15.5MM per year salary.
no way he walks.
He better not.